"Thirty-seven! That sounds like a very good age, Mister Horvath. I didn't know that slaves' lives were so temporary." Ezra redirected his gaze to look at the back of his master's head as the horse and carriage continued to plod along. "I don't know how old Master is," Ezra said softly, bringing up a hand to thoughtfully stroke his chin. "But he is very handsome, I think, so he must still be young. I hope that means Master and I get many years together. And you, as well, Mister Horvath," Ezra added, his own brand of politeness. He still wasn't sure how he felt about the sizable man, but Horvath had given Ezra no reason to worry thus far, so perhaps things would be okay. Master Reis seemed confident that Horvath posed no threat to him, and it was a sad Asha who could place no trust in his master.<br/><br/>Ezra had noticed begun to notice a few minutes after Reis had deviated from their initial path. He had climbed back toward the bench where Reis sat to inquire about where they were going, if not back home, but Master gave this information to Ezra unprompted. The Asha only nodded in response, but he stayed up front with Reis for the rest of the way, looking back at Horvath every so often to continue analyzing all the marks left upon the slave's face.<br/><br/>The Asha was curious when Reis pulled up to Hildy's home, and he followed his master willingly without needing to be prompted. Ezra smiled when Reis introduced him to the eccentric-looking woman. He opened his mouth to say something, but she had taken his hand and was already pulling him inside, directing all of her questions to Reis and not the creature whom she was tugging along.<br/><br/>Ezra liked all of the different bottles and containers on the shelves lining Hildy's walls. He wanted to take a closer look at them, to hold them up and stare and ogle, but one of his hands was wrapped up and the other was being held by Hildy, so all he could do follow her and settle once they were fully inside the hut. The woman looked at his face and continued asking questions, some answered by Reis, some not. He opened his mouth to respond to one that had gone without an answer but the woman kept talking to Master and Master alone, as if she did not think Ezra capable of proper communication. It was a little off-putting for Ezra, though he shouldn't have been disturbed by being interrupted by humans. It had happened often back on Tuloa, but typically Ezra had little to add in those situations as the humans often discussed business, trade laws, shipping methods, all dull matters as far as Ezra was concerned.<br/><br/>The woman redeemed herself in Ezra's eyes when she called him pretty, and the Asha grinned wide. "The keepers said I was the prettiest of all the Asha," Ezra replied proudly, stopping himself just short of mentioning just<i>where</i>those keepers were. Master had made it clear he wasn't supposed to mention where he was from, and Ezra didn't want to incur his master's fury.<br/><br/>"I broke my hand because Master wouldn't let me sleep with him," Ezra continued, wanting to explain himself as Reis didn't seem particularly interested in expanding upon Hildy's inquiries. "I was a bad Asha and ran so I could go outside, because I was sad that Master didn't like me. The door was locked and I couldn't get out, and I smashed my hand through the window. I didn't mean to. Master locked me in a cage for the rest of the night, so I wouldn't break anything else." Ezra frowned and bowed his head slightly, still ashamed for he had done and how Master had punished him.<br/><br/>"I want to be a good Asha. I don't like it when Master is upset with me."