Taiga mimicked the duke's gesture of respect, stepping forward and bobbing his head smoothly. He was sweating heavily in his thicker, covering clothing and his fur ruff. He'd taken off most of his outer clothing but his shirt's collar and his fur-lined boots, while perfect for Xishanese summer, was oppressive for Dusanian dry season. The ceremonial quiver and bow hung over his shoulders were a heavy nuisance, but he hadn't had the chance to remove them yet and display them properly. In Xishan, your bow was your most important possession, next to your horse.<br/><br/>Taiga's eyes slid past the duke to the man behind him, and Taiga's heart leaped. His soft petal lips parted just for a second.<br/><br/>He was beautiful, taller than Taiga by a good few hands, and broader than him, too. In terms of attraction, the effect was immediate. Taiga fought with himself to keep his face passive, astounded to learn from the Duke's words that this self-possessed man who carried himself with such pride was a slave, and was assigned to his care.<br/><br/>He recalled the treatise he'd read on slavery in different cultures. In Xishan, a slave looking him in the eye or addressing him without a sir or master would have been unheard of. But he knew it was common among the Dusanian, and he counseled himself to quiet while he gave a bow again and said, "I thank you for your hospitality, your grace. I would love a bath—and perhaps to be lent a lighter set of clothing, and an offering of the same to my men? Some will refuse Dusanian clothing but most I am sure are sweating as uncomfortably as me. Fur is not appropriate clothing for Dusan, I think," he said with a charming smile.<br/><br/>Taiga was beautiful, limpid and lovely with long lashes and soft lips, black eyes that seemed more suited towards poetry than the making of war, and something withheld and mysterious on his face. He was short and willowy but held himself with pride that was hard to look away from.<br/><br/>"I also know many of my men will be anxious about their horses. You may if you are so inclined to organize to show them to the stables where their steeds are being kept. It would be a great service to them and to my people." He left out that the Xishanese were so nervous because not a single man of them trusted Dusanians to properly care for horses, and many had talked endlessly on the ride here of worry for their mounts.<br/><br/>"To you, sir, may I present some of our slaves, later? I will let you pick one if they please you to trade for Eras' services," he said calmly. He'd done a good job of the lightly-rolled<i>r </i>in Eras' name, though it was by no means a perfect rendition. "You may, of course, keep him or her, though I will expect no similar permanency." He smiled at Eras.