Asima frowned, but obeyed, removing her hands from Malum and stepping back slightly. Her chocolate eyes were riveted to the males, worrying making her forehead crease.

As the ice quickly disappeared, the pain on Malum's face was evident. Eventually he could hold it back no longer, a scream of agony burst from his lips as the last of the cold burned from his veins. Set placed his glowing hands on the man. Blood ran into the sand below as Malum's skin burned clean off, only to be hastily replaced with new skin as Set rushed his magic to cover the thief King before it was too late. By the end of it, Malum was dizzy with the aftermath of pain, passed out right next to Set, who did likewise from sheer exhaustion.

Asima glanced from both the males quickly, moving into the house and to her own room. "Solum, come quick!" She commanded through the door, rushing back downstairs to the two men, grabbing Set, half dragging the male into the house. She finally laid him on her tiny couch, sighing in relief, before wetting a cloth and wiping it over Set's head tenderly.

Solum was there in moments, fully carrying Malum back within the house and setting him down carefully, "Are they alright?" he questioned uncertainly.

After a few moments the damp cloth caused Set to stir again. He opened his eyes slightly, "mmnn... d-did it work?" he breathed softly.

"I-I think so Set. You did so wonderfully! Thank you, Set." Asima placed a kiss on his forehead, moving to Malum. She hesitated, trembling when she placed the cloth on his body. She didn't want to be near him, wanted to run away, and was frightened. She remembered how easily he'd pinned her in the cave. Asima nodded to Solum as she bathed Malum's head, "Yes. Set did very well, I think Malum will be fine."

Set blushed a beat red upon the kiss, it rendered him completely inable to respond coherantly. So after a few meager attempts at a stutter, he just stayed quiet.

Malum didn't wake up, although he was breathing at least. He probably just needed rest at this point.

((me to x.x passing out at computer lol))

(Heh, that's fine! ^u^)

Asima set the cloth down, before nodding to Malum. "My servants will be up soon. Will you take him to my room, Solum?" She left, moving through the house and gathering some more food. She brought some to Set first, smiling as she offered some. "Y-you did really good...."

Solum nodded and headed upstairs to hide in Asima's room and take care of his brother. It was a good thing to because the servants were soon up and about, no doubt awakened by Malum's previous screams of agony.

Set sat up slowly, "uhhgg... I don't think I'm going to be able to cast for the rest of the day" he moaned, holding his head, "maybe more than that... I-I've never used to much before..."

"But you did amazing." Asima reassured him, setting the food on the table before Set. Her gaze refused to meet the male's. "Thank you."

She left after a moment, wandering about the house and cuddling the pups. They seemed to sense something was amiss, whining.

Set ate a little bit, he didn't have much to say on the topic anymore. He had brought Malum back and he wasn't too sure how he felt about that-definitely not happy though.

Asima finished her wandering, gathering a few items such as jewelry she'd brought with her. Perhaps she could sell the stones for money in Fordan...

Eventually, she made her way back to Set, pulling the tiny note from her cloak, explaining things to Nemiah, telling him why she did what she did, and begging him to take full advantage of the month he'd been given. She also explained about Frodan, and told him she would give him to location, if she was able. "Will you give this to Nemiah tommorrow? I know I shouldn't ask any more of you, but it is important."

Set looked between her and the note, "... are you ever coming back?" he asked quietly, not taking it quite yet.

Her hand started to tremble, before she forced herself to straighten, arm still outstreched. "I-I don't know if I will be able to. Someday, maybe, but I need to leave now. Solum was right, someone else can take the throne for the theives, with Malum, we know where we stand, and we will have a month to decimate him." She gave a bitter laugh, "I can't get you to forgive me, how do you think Nemiah would? No, Set, I don't think I'll be able to come back." She gave the letter a tiny shake. "Please?"

Set looked the floor, then sighed and took the note, "Please Asima... be careful" he whispered, then forced a little smile, "Master Lakar would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

An attempted smile answered his, before the princess admitted, "I don't know what I am doing, or what I will do there. I'm...frightened, but maybe this will give Nemiah a chance to take down the thieves, while getting me away from death." She paused, "He's going to be furious. Thank you, Set, for delivering the letter. I'm going to check on Malum now." Asima turned, moving to her room, giving a tiny knock before stepping inside.

Malum was still unconscious, laying on the bed of pillows and blankets. At first Solum was nowhere to be seen until he stepped into view, no doubt just making sure it wasn't one of the servants. Solum looked from his brother to Asima, "He should wake up soon. Malum's never slept more than a few hours at a time, even this exhausted. We should be able to go in an hour or two."

Asima nodded, moving around the room. Various items were shoved into the tiny bag, before Asima took new clothes, changing behind a screen. How was she going to do this? She didn't even know how to wash clothes... Sighing, the came from behind the screen, glancing around the room. "JUst let me know when you two are ready, so I can get my dogs."

The princess had moved closer to the bed, peering curiously at Malum. This was an enemy of the throne, right here. All it would take was one slip of the dagger hidden on her, and the treat would be eliminated, at least for now. Asima sighed softly, before lifting a finger, touching Malum's hair curiously. The white hair had shocked her, when she first saw it. She snorted softly, when she'd thought Malum was actually a messanger of the Gods. "Why do you have white hair?" She asked Solum softly, running the tendrils through her fingers. "And such strange eyes?"

"I don't know" Solum replied, "We just do. Malum and I seem to be the most unlikely people in the world, we're lucky that most don't think it's possible there could be more than one of us" he smirked a little, then looked at her seriously, "and about that... You can not, under any circumstances reveal my identity to anyone. It is not a bargaining chip of any sort so don't even think about it. Neither of us will tolerate it."

Asima snorted softly at this, glancing away. "I've practically given my brother to hyenas, do you honestly think I wouldn't balk at telling a name to other hyenas. As long as the hyenas would help me, anyway." After she spoke, she went back to basically ignoring Solum, poking a prodding Malum gently. After a bit, curiousity finally won over, and Asima lifted the green eye lid open, staring at the orb intently. "It's so strange! Why would the gods give someone like Malum this kind of body?" The question wasn't directed at Solum, the princess seemed to have forgotten he was there.

Suddenly the blue eye snapped open as well as Malum seized Asima's wrist to push her away, "ah-you!" he coughed a little, sitting up sharply. He looked around the room quickly, disorientated and trying to figure out where he was.

"Malum, it's alright" Solum stepped forward, "everything's safe here. You can relax"

Asima shrieked in surprise, jerking her hand away and scrambling to the wall. Child-like, she stuck her tounge out at Malum as Solum spoke to his brother. "Ra dammit, of course it's me! Show some gratitude, I saved your ass!!!" She straightened, slowly, and smoothed out the dress, lifting her chin. Now that her heartbeat felt like it was returning to normal, she spoke properly.

"And how are you feeling?" She asked, moving a bit closer to the bed after filling a glass with water from a tiny jug in her room. She held the glass out to Malum, her eyes wary.

"Yes, thank you for getting me out of that hell hole after putting me INTO it" Malum snapped at her, snatching the cup of water and giving it a bit of a sniff before downing it all.

"Well at least he's in a good mood" Solum commented with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yeah, a good enough mood to kick your ass" Malum glared at his brother.

Solum crossed his arms "It was only a week, you've been through worse"

"A month" Malum growled, "A. Month."

Asima flinched away from his words, before her own retort came. "Well-If you hadn't killed my father and been trying to kill my brother and myself, you would have avoided going there at all!" She glanced at Solum, rolling her eyes, before focusing on Malum once more. "Set said time moved faster there. It was only a week here."

After another moment, she glanced between both boys. So eerie... "U-um...Are you still hungry?"

"No" Malum retorted, starting to get up. He wavered a little on his feet, Solum had to catch him before he fell over.

"that means yes" Solum rolled his eyes beneath his hood, he looked at Asima, "Would you mind getting something for him to eat?"

"I'm fine!" Malum insisted, trying to pull away but Solum just shoved him back towards the bed. Malum growled and grabbed his brother, yanking him down with him. Malum laughed as Solum gave a bit of a yelp and fell on Malum, his hood flying off. Soon the King of Thieves had his brother pinned, "Now. are you going to stop speaking for me?"

"Never." Solum scoffed up at him, then suddenly kicked his legs and rolled so that he instead had Malum pinned. He gave a smirk, "now be a good boy and eat your greens."

Malum's face was priceless, he clearly didn't have the strength to really fight Solum off, "... I'm going to get you for this" he mumbled.

Solum looked up at Asima again, "Do you have any leeks? He hates them."

"You're enjoying this way too much" Malum growled.

Asima watched the whole thing with wide eyes. She had to think of Malum as an enemy. These two boys were not normal, did not play, have things they liked, or hated. They had no feelings. And she had to remember that. After a moment, she lifted her head, moving out of the room. As she passed Set, she paused to hug him. "Set, Malum is awake. You are free to go, though I'm not sure when he would be ready to leave, and would appriciate if you'd waited for an hour or so." She moved past him then, selected multiple items from the kitchen, though she couldn't cook, so it was mostly cured meats and various fruits.

They were brought to Malum, Asima biting her lip and turning away from the males, speaking only to ask curtly, "When do we leave?"