Though Ezra still maintained his reservations, Master Reis appeared confident that this new slave would do nothing to harm him, and Ezra had no choice but to trust in his master's decisions. Reis finished up his business with the salesman, who must have been slightly put off to have lost money today thanks to his surprisingly aggressive Asha, and the three males made their way back to the livery where Reis' carriage and animals were being kept. The slave followed a short distance behind Ezra, who walked at Reis' side without shame. It was an interesting land, Belmir, where pets were given higher status than human slaves. Asha were expensive creatures (Ezra perhaps the most expensive in the entire country), and they were coddled and protected at all costs, while slaves who were slaves for a myriad of reasons--sometimes including just being born unlucky--were beaten, lashed, and punished severely for minor slights in ways Asha never would be. Asha may have been considered stupider than humans, and for the most part they were, but they were prized, while rich humans treated their disadvantaged counterparts like garbage.<br/><br/>The slave was nervous when they approached the carriage and the hounds began barking, turning away and huddling into himself. Both Ezra and Reis seemed to notice this, though Ezra found it more confusing than anything else. "They make noise because they don't understand you," Ezra told the big man, and he took a step forward and knelt down, holding out his arms as a peace offering to the agitated canines. Asha were in tune not only with nature, but animals as well, though they couldn't speak with them like they could with the flowers and trees. But the hounds felt the calming vibrations Ezra emitted, and they came to him willingly, lapping affectionately at his face and wagging their tails before Reis called them away. "See, they're nice. You just have to show them you're nice, too," he said, standing up and climbing up onto the front bench with his master while the slave clambered into the back.<br/><br/>Master Reis set in with his questions and explanations for why he had decided to take the slave home, and as Ezra knew much of this information already, he hardly listened. He was far more interested in turning around on the bench to stare at the enormous man, passing his gaze over every visible scar, analyzing his thickset body and unbelievable height. The man was huge, but he curled in on himself as if he wanted to be smaller, like Ezra or Reis, both average sized males with average builds who looked minuscule next to Horvath's frame.<br/><br/>"Master?" Ezra asked, pointing toward the back of the carriage, requesting permission. Reis nodded his approval, but he slowed down the horse slightly and reminded Ezra to be careful while he crawled into the back with Horvath, ensuring Ezra didn't lose his grip and accidentally slip over the edge. The Asha carefully eased his way along the carriage and settled down opposite of Horvath, starring at the slave with wide eyes. Unfortunately for the big man, Ezra lacked subtlety, and if the pet was making Horvath uncomfortable with his incessant gaze, Ezra was oblivious to this.<br/><br/>"Horvath is a strange name, and feels big on my tongue. It makes my mouth open wide. But it is different, so I like it." The slave didn't seem to want to look at him very closely as he spoke, so Ezra edged forward, gently trying to acquire his attention. "My name is Ezra," he continued, settling down in front of Horvath, though he kept himself from touching like he had tried to with the red haired Asha. Humans were different, and this one still unnerved him.<br/><br/>"I am twenty-six years old, but that is young for an Asha. We cannot even start breeding until we are at least twenty-five. We can live to be almost two hundred years old. Did you know this? I have heard that many Asha die when their master dies, however, out of sadness, so most do not live to such an old age. Does this happen with human slaves, too? How old are you, Mister Horvath?"<br/><br/>Ezra did not realize that being a slave, Horvath was of a lower standing than even he was, therefore the titles were unnecessary. But the young Asha had been taught to treat all humans with respect and honorifics, so he was pleasant and smiled when he spoke, because this method seemed to work best when interacting with humans.