“I was taught your language in Ellania, though nothing more. Since my master dealt with trade, he wanted me to know the language, but he didn't fill me in on your politics. Would have been pointless to him, I imagine.” He'd found that he could use Altair as a tool to warm up those that he conducted trade with. The foreign slave could be charming and alluring. It wasn't all that different from what he did in Dusan for his masters, just on a lesser involved scale. His voice was low, trying to explain and answer the questions to the best of his ability.<br/><br/>“We didn't actually get to do much trade with Weiss, on account of the ship being intercepted with Ellanian goods on board. Jewelry, wool, and grain. We were more successful in the areas closer to his home,” Altair explained, though he wished that he'd been better educated now but Ellanians did hold the same beliefs in regards to the usefulness of slaves like Dusan. They didn't feel they had a place in politics.<br/><br/>“I was never taught there was a world outside of slavery. Why would anyone teach a slave something like that?” The slaves in Ellania that had known freedom were often tetchy and poorly mannered. Altair had been raised for it, but there was reward where he came from. He was starting to understand why some might reject their bonds.<br/><br/>“Rain is more common towards the southern capital, but it still can be very dry,” Altair answered. He knew a little about snow. He'd experienced it in Ellania but he spent most of this time bundled up by the fire, or in bed with his either his master or one of his Ellanian slaves. He didn't spend much time outside when it was chilly at all. The smaller of the two men were suddenly moving towards him and Altair jerked away, at least as much as his bindings would allow, which was to say not much at all. He'd asked to be untied yet he couldn't be sure if that was the man's intention. He fell out of sight, approaching from behind Altair where he couldn't see him. He was tense and silent as he felt the bed dip beneath the other's weight, the blanket pulled aside. He didn't trash, keeping still as he awaited the man's next move.<br/><br/>He felt a hand at his ankle, and then the binding come loose. Snow moved to the other leg and Altair was careful to remain still, relaxing marginally when he moved to unbind his hands. Kicking out in a panic would do him no good except perhaps to be rebound. The other man was watching him closely. The man returned to the chair he was sitting in right after and only then did Altair chance to move. They were very suspicious of him but all he did was pull his limbs in closer to himself and shift after so slightly onto his side, eyes still looking to the one who was obviously in charge. He rubbed feeling back into his wrists.<br/><br/>“I will not attack. If you still think that you know even less of Dusan than I know of Weiss,” Altair told them. It had taken quite a lot to actually drive him to violence and he didn't care to start lashing out at random. He was too smart for that, at least if they didn't drive him mad with pain and humiliation. Even if they did decide to go that route, with Altair as he was now he doubted he would be able to do little damage. He pulled the blanket back over himself, still feeling chilly despite his skin being warm.<br/><br/>“Thank you,” he said to Snow instead, grateful to the man for untying him. “For getting me out of the water as well. I did not want to die. Not really.”