They glanced at each other, exchanging another look that seemed to portray some mutual thoughts. Mary smile at Asima again, "We could tell you were different the moment we saw you Asima, but that's never really mattered. We would welcome anyone into our home..."

"And I think we've been living here so long, I can't really imagine going anywhere else" Jonathan added, "This place, with these people, it may not be much but it's where we belong."

Mary nodded, holding Jonathan's strong weathered hand in hers, "Besides, we're already getting old, why not give this freedom to those who can really use it?"

Asima kissed the old lady's cheek. "I plan to...but, are you sure? I'd love to pay you back for what you've done..."

"We have everything we need" Mary smiled, giving her a hug as Asima gave her a kiss, "The Lord provides. You just take care now alright? And tell that fellow of yours the same."

[Color="DarkRed"]The princess had nodded and smiled before Mary's words sank in. Fellow of hers? The smile faltered, before she pasted it back on. "Of course...thank you two!"

She moved down the street, asking again for Sarah, until she had located the hut she was directed to. Nervously, she knocked gently.

[/colr]

"If you leave that out again, I'm gonna give you a good old fashion spanking!" Sarah's voice could be heard clear through the door before she opened it.

"I'm older than you!" called a male's voice back to her, "You couldn't take me in a million years"

"Pfft, age and strength doesn't mean a thing against a wild woman!" She called back before even looking to see who was there. She stopped at the sighed of Asima, "oh... hi..."

"Ha, alright, I know better than to fight you on your sanity" a boy laughed, coming up next to her. They were so clearly related, same eyes and hair, except his hair was all sorts of curly unlike hers. "Heellloooo, who do we have here?" he raised a brow at Asima's curious appearance.

"H-hullo." Asima muttered, giving a minute nod to Sarah's brother. My name is P-Asima...I..." Her chocolate eyes settled on Sarah. "I was hoping I could talk with you...It's important."

"Hey sure-" Her brother began, only be cut off by his sister's hand in his face.

"How important?" Sarah asked suspiciously.

"Aww, Sarah, don't be like that. Invite her in"

"Luke, please, let me handle this" Sarah shot him a look, causing the boy to retreat.

"Alright, alright, I'll get outta your hair." he disappeared into the small building.

So Sarah hadn't forgiven her... "I must go to Arabia...I need your help. For Malum. And, if you agree, my brother has agreed to free you and your brother...I've also decided I'd supply you with money to start your new life, if you agree..."

Sarah crossed her arms, "So help you, or live here in squander forever? Hm, nice choices, if you can call them that."

"I didn't say that." Asima winced. "Nemiah gave me permission to free who I needed to, when I asked. I plan on freeing you, whatever you choose..but, this is something malum wished, too. And I can't do it without you. Will you help him, at least?" She didn't need to know Malum was dead just yet.

Sarah frowned, looking Asima over thoughtfully.

"yyeeessss" whispered a voice from around the corner inside the building.

"Luke!" Sarah protested.

"She says yes, if she doesn't, I will." Luke stuck his tongue out at Sarah, then smiled at Asima, "From what I've heard, this Malum's been a huge help to my little sis. And you're offering something pretty awesome for us to. Common Sarah, you know it's right thing, what's made you so bitter?"

"You don't understand Luke, she's-"

"She's the princess of Egypt" Luke gave his sister a look, "and she's trying to make things right, at least with you. That's saying something, why not give her a chance? Forgiveness is a gift from God, how can we expect him to forgive us, if we can't forgive our fellow man?"

Sarah shifted uncomfortably, "alright, alright... I'll help..."

"T-thank you!" Asima smiled, though all this talk of one god made her shift nervously. "That's so wonderful! Um...Would you two like to come to my home, then? You could rest tonight, in our guest rooms, and tomorrow I can tell you what's so important. If you have any items that are important, I can send servants tomorrow to bring them..?"

Sarah sighed, "I dunno..."

"Oh, oh, Can we go? please sis, oh pleeaassseee?" Luck bounced around like a child with a teasing grin.

"Ahg! Okay! fine! Jeeze, how are you older than me? You act like a two year old!" Sarah scolded him, only to be smothered in a hug, "mmnff!"

"Sweet! We don't have much, I can carry anything important myself" Luck chuckled and let his sister go as he ducked back into the dephts of the house again, "this is gonna be awesome!"

A real smile touched Asima's face, and she watched Luke disappear inside. "Thank you." Asima finally muttered to Sarah, "Do you need help, carrying anything?"

"No, we can handle it" Sarah replied, moving inside to help her brother.

Asima nodded. This trip would be hard, it was clear Sarah had no qualms about being diffucult. She moved to her horse, holding the reins gently. If she walked, the items could be slung on the mare's back.

They came back out shortly with nothing more than two bags to carry. Luke was excited, Sarah seemed to be trying to keep his head down on earth instead of way up in the clouds.

Asima offered her mare to carry the items, leading the creature through the city. She remained fairly quiet, thinking of the task ahead, and how to get Sarah's help without teling the woman too much.

As they walked along, Luke was persistently being a childish nuisance to Sarah. The girl ended up grabbing him by the ear and leading him through the streets by it, right up to the palace gates.

"ow ow ow ow ooowww" Luke groaned, "okay, I'm done! I swear, Let me go!"

"Good, now behave" Sarah ordered, finally releasing him.

The princess giggled, watching the two. At the palace, she handed her horse to a servant, and had another cart the items to the guest rooms. "Would you like anything to eat or anything else?" Asima asked, tilting her head.

Luke looked to Sarah, "Can we pwease have some awesome rich people food mommy?" he teased with a pair of adorable puppy dog eyes.

Sarah groaned, "I suppose I could go for something to eat... And quit calling me mommy!"

"Then quit acting like one" Luke retorted with a grin.

Sarah rolled her eyes "Somebody has to keep you in check"

"Pfft, is it a crime to love life? My philosophy: be a child, live to the fullest-woah there's a lot of gold in here!" Luke's eyes caught sight of the tall golden walls, glinting in the sunlight.

Sarah mumbled under her breath, "Fine, be a child, but I'm not changing your undergarments if you soil yourself."

Asima couldn't help the snort of laughter that came from her. She led the two inside, selecting a room and sending for some food. She sent another to see if Nemiah was busy. It would be strange if Nemiah saw them and ordered them about without realizing they were the ones she'd freed.

Once they were settled in the room, she shifted on the pile of pillows she chosen to sit on awkwardly. What do you say to someone who didn't like you at all. "Um, I saw Jonathan and Mary...they seem to be doing well..."

Sarah stood, looking around the room curiously, "Yeah... they're doing alright considering their complete captivity" she stated.

"They're like the grandparents of the entire village" Luke laughed, tossing a pillow in the air and feeling how soft it is to catch, "I don't think they'd even leave if they got the chance, not without everyone else anyway."

Asima fell silent, biting her lip. She'd offered, but there was no point in telling Sarah this. She lowered her head a bit, after watching the plate of food being brought in and set down. "I know." She finally stated, then tried to change the subject. "Would you like to meet my brother?". After the words came out, the princess realized that may not be the best thing to ask.

Luke dropped the pillow and turned to the food with a hungry and curious look, but before he could actually take a bite he seemed a little caught off guard by Asima's question, "uuhhh... the Pharaoh?" he asked with a bit of apprehension in his tone.

Sarah sat across from Asima, popping a grape in her mouth as she met the princess' gaze almost challengingly, "Yeah, sure."

"Oh no you don't" Luke interjected, "No offence Princess, really, but do not let my sister near the Pharaoh."