Horvath didn't know what to think of his current situation. The stern looking Belmiran was ordering him forward, to his Asha pet. To touch. There was blood on the creatures face, and he was holding linen to staunch the bleeding. He'd heard the commotion, but hadn't seen it directly. What all had happened? The Asha seemed a little uneasy, though he didn't possess the stark fear of many Belmiran slaves. Of course, most masters treated their pets better, even apparent sadists like this one. The words made him extremely uncomfortable. He was a laborer. He wasn't meant to touch things like the Asha. He tried not to look when the tunic was raised. It was inappropriate. A pet for the eyes of free men, not his own. He wouldn't be able to do what was asked of him. He'd have to refuse, and suffer the lash. At least it wasn't an unknown discomfort.<br/><br/>Reis was talking to the salesman when Ezra came back to his side. His expression had lost some of it's harshness since he'd gleaned the information he'd wanted. Ezra came close enough that the salesman wouldn't be able to hear him when he voiced his own concerns. Ezra seemed a little unsure based upon his size and appearance. He told the salesman to write up a bill of sale, and so that he could speak more openly with Ezra without him cutting into their conversation.<br/><br/>"I think he speaks truth; I don't think he's a brute, no matter his grotesque looks. Out of the options, he seems to have the best disposition." Some of the smaller, smiling slaves likely posed a greater danger to Ezra.<br/><br/>"I threatened him with a severe punishment, and he still refused knowing that I could have him beaten to death if I wanted to. I don't think he'd hurt you. If he was violent, he'd be dead. It's a quality not usually tolerated in Belmiran slaves," Reis explained, still watching the man who stood where Ezra had left him, eyes cast to the ground, shoulders hunched. Still, when the slaver came back, Reis asked of his temperament.<br/><br/>"Gentle, and obedient. Soft-minded, even. Dumb, but he will follow orders. We trust him to labor for us around our asha. He has only ever ignored them, but I'm sure with some training you could order him to the task you'd asked. He.. isn't known to balk," the man explained, unsure really what Reis wasn't him for. Reis didn't say anything else. He wanted the interaction to be over and done with, so he signed for the big man and called it even. Reis, of course, would still be loosing. He'd free the man shortly, and offer him compensation for the tasks he would ask of him, but if he served his purpose, he could let it go. Reis ushered them out, back to their carriage, where he had the brute sit in the back after calming the dogs. They went into a frenzy at seeing him, and the big fellow looked afraid of him as well. Actually, he seemed fearful of his own shadow, really. Soft of mind, indeed.<br/><br/>He let Ezra up front with him, but he wasn't sure how long he would remain. He was a curious sort, and he didn't think his nervousness around the slave would last long.<br/><br/>"What is your name?" Reis asked.<br/><br/>"Horvath, master," the man answered, hunched over his own knees, constantly at a struggle with making himself appear smaller. An impossible task for such a man.<br/><br/>"Can you fight?"<br/><br/>"Not well, master."<br/><br/>That didn't matter all that much, Reis supposed. He was imposing looking, scary enough to deter any potential threats to Ezra.<br/><br/>"I've an unusual proposition for you. I did not take you for myself. It will be wholesome, mostly easy work. I simply need someone to watch over my Asha. Perhaps someone to tend to my garden, since you have farming experience. I'm assuming you have plenty of understanding of Belmiran soil?"<br/><br/>Horvath tried to hide his surprise, and answered him since his master had his back to him, driving the horse foward. The hounds trotted beside the carriage, ignoring him now.<br/><br/>"If you hurt him I'll make sure there isn't a single strip of unmarked flesh on your back, am I understood? You will not be forbade to touch him, because it might be necessary in certain instances, but it is to remain appropriate. I think we've already established that won't be an issue for you." It was all empty threat. Reis couldn't very well have a free man flogged, but it would be a motivator the slave understood. Once he settled a little, he'd sit down and speak with Horvath. He didn't want to turn his world completely upside down before they'd even gotten home. Better to let things sink in a little at a time.<br/><br/>"I want you to be a friend to him. He is lonely, and for some reason the other asha attacked him. Maybe you will not work, but it was worth a chance. I was due some form of compensation."<br/><br/>"Yes, master." If the slave didn't understand, he didn't say so just yet.