Asima waved rapidly to her friend.


Above them, a flock of finches were making huge swirling spirals. Though it was nothing new and nothing strange, a few of the birds watched the trio a bit too intently with glazed eyes.

Set waved back as he left, heading out through the city and beyond. He decided to head back to Frodan, it was basically where he'd grown up and to be honest he missed it sometimes.

He traveled for quite some time, for once on a journey with no rush it was rather relaxing.

Asima stayed until Set was out of sight, then trudged back into the palace. She returned to her room, shuffling through papers again.

The finches with the glazed eyes left then, the normal birds continuing to swirl gracefully. Covered from head to toe, Souban stood outside the old pharoah's coffin, smiling as her birds returned. With a simple spell and a thumb to their head, she could see everything they had. Hemset had left the palace. Time to double the work. In a few days, she'd be able to launch another attack.

(Hey Lavinia!)

((Lavinia?! Is she still here?! Dude, awesome ^_^ Our stalker still exists!))

Set made it to Frodan and found a place to settle in. As it turned out, the old place where he and his brother had stayed was open for rent. It was still the same old man who ran it as well, everything felt just like home.

Meanwhile back at the Palace, Solum was still yet to show his face. Malum just said his brother was busy, but instead of helping him out Malum was spending a lot of time helping Asima. He spent any free time he could with the princess in fact.

(I know, right? Makes me feel so loved!)

After working for a while, Asima set the paper she was reading down with a long sigh. "I can't concentrate..." She moved a few papers aside and offered Malum a coy grin. "I think I've got too much energy..."

((^_^ Hey Lav, if you want I've got a few journals for Malum, Solum and Set started up. Give them a gander!))

Malum looked over and grinned back at her, "Shall we have a small adventure?"

Asima's smile grew, and she tugged Malum over on her bed with a giggle.

(She's so bad. I wish I could have as muchconfidence as my character...0.o )

((XD lol, very nice))

A lovely romp later, Malum snuggled with her.

Asima curled up in the male's side, drawing patterns in his skin gently. "Have your memories returned at all?" She asked quietly.

Malum hesitated, he hated being asked that question because the answer was always the same. He only had a few of Asima's and Solum's memories. "I remember how wonderful it is to share a bed with you" he smiled.

The princess glanced up at him, offering the smile she knew the male wanted. It still upset her, however. She didn't know if he would ever get his memories back. "That's why Solum is staying away, isn't it?" She pressed gently.

Malum sighed, "He's just busy. We still do have to run an entire underground, thieving and murdering operation against you guys."

Asima bit her lip, eying the male doubtfully. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. You...You don't have to stay you know." Her eyes shifted away. She loved Malum being here. Thoiugh it was the farthest thing from the truth, Asima felt like he belonged in the palace. It felt amazing to enter her bedroom and see the male lounging around. But he did still have to be the King of Thieves.

"Solum's doing fine" Malum waved it aside, "and besides" he kissed her, "I want to be here with you."

"But," Asima protested. "Solum's not used to doing it all. And...I love you aring about me this much, but Solum...he used to be your number one priority. I feel like I'm stealing you from him."

The thief rubbed the back of his head as he tried to figure out what to say, "... Asima... if Solum wanted my help, he would have asked for it by now. He tells me he's going out to do something and I offer to come along but he insists that he can 'do this one himself'. So fine, I get to spend more time with you, I'm okay with that. If he needs his space, I'm not going to pressure him."

"Okay." Asima returned to her normal self quickly. "I just don't want to take you away...If...if sSouban does come back, it will be for Nemiah and myself, right? If it happens...will you go to Frodan? I'm afraid you would get hurt. If she can bring back people from the dead, there is no telling who she will bring. And she could go after you, since you are close to me..."

Malum gave her a look as he stroked her hair soothingly, "Asima, Asima, Asima. I'm not going anywhere and you can't make me. If she does come for you and your brother, my brother and I will be here to help and that's final, got it?"

The princess didn't answered, instead looking away. She would simply have to come up with something to get him away before then. She had no doubt Souban would come for her brother. Malum and Soum's fighting skills would be a great advantage...but if either of them got hurt for her...

It also took the princess aback. The old Malum may have stayed to fight, but she doubted he would have stated it. For now, however, it was a losing battle, so she would drop the subject. "I've been trying to keep my eyes open while searching for a solution to Melhet, but I haven't found anything about memories. I know Set looked, but a second glance never hurt. Does..." Asima glanced to Malum warily, unsure if she was pushing a sore topic, "Does it bother you at all? You seem so much happier and light-hearted, but you were a very good actor before..."

Malum shrugged, sitting up and leaned against the head of the bed, "If you say I seem happier now, then I probably am. So if I'm happier, then why would I want to go back?" he asked with a smile, "I know all I need to know right?"

"Not exactly." Asima frowned. "I...I love how you are now, don't get me wrong, but it makes me think, a bit too much. Did you care for me this much before? You never let me see this side of you. Plus, you are much more open, and in your...occupation, openness isn't a good thing. You told me that a lot. It not only puts your life in danger, but also Solum's. I've...I've been thinking that maybe that's why he is so upset..."

Malum hesitated a moment, seeming a bit confused at first, "... so... I need to stand off more?" he asked uncertainly, "is this really putting you in danger? How? I mean... no one really knows right? So..." he shook his head, trying to sort this out. He got out of bed and paced, "I don't understand. I just want to be here, with you and everyone, happy. Why can't I just do that? Why does everyone seem to think I'm so... so... clueless? Am I? How is it possible you all seem to know how I'm supposed to be, when all I have to go on is your memories of me? What am I doing wrong?"

"I do not know if it puts me in danger." Asima responded truthfully. "I do know it puts you and your brother in it. And what do you mean no one knows?" The princess shifted her eyes around, "The rumors fly about me. Us, I suppose. I disappear for months, I travel with the King of Thieves, the man who killed my father." Her frowned deepened as Malum stood and paced.

"You are doing nothing wrong. I'm just worried. You are different now, it doesn't mean wrong. I...am worried that when you regain your memories, I'm afraid you may be mad at me. I'm afraid you don't truly feel anything for me, and this is simply because you've seen how much I care for you. I supplied some of your memories, remember?" She blushed furiously. "So I'm sure you have some of my thoughts in your head. What if you change back, and you get angry at me for accepting your...openness? What if you trust someone you would have known before not to, and they try to kill you?"

Malum stared at her a moment, before hanging his head, "that's what I'm afraid of as well. I don't ever want to stop loving you, and my only defense against doing something incredibly stupid is to hope you or Solum will stop me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, so I just do what I want and spend time with you, but is that right? I have no idea..."

Asima sighed, and patted the bed gently. "I don't know. I've never been able to tell you what to do, you know. And I don't even know if it's right for me to be around you so much. I do know that before..." She shifted awkwardly, "You didn't go out of your way to spend time with me. Your whole life was for Solum and this facade, and if I forgot, you made sure to remind me. What...what if we could locate something that sees everything? Including peoples souls and thoughts..."