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"Malum!" Solum greeted, coming forward to meet him.
Malum startled a little, turning his back to the horse and looking at Solum with uncertainty. Solum hesitated, "Malum? It's me... Solum... are you alright?" he stepped forward, reaching out to his brother. The King grabbed Solum the wrist and swiftly twisted behind his back, "No more" he whispered, "No more mind games Keg..." Solum cringed, "Malum it's really me! It's Solum" he lowered his voice, "your brother... calm down, you're safe here." Malum's grip hesitantly loosened, Solum didn't moved until he had been completely let go. "... Solum there's something in my head" he winced, "I keep seeing things that aren't there... that were..." he startled suddenly and turned, looking down the street in alarm. Solum stared at him, then gently placed his hands on Malum's shoulders and made him face him, "Malum, listen to me. there is nothing there." "but-" "Nothing" Solum insisted, "come inside... we'll figure this out..." |
Asima watched the exchange with wide eyes, almost crying out and rushing to attempt and aid Solum as Malum attacked him. Her brow furrowed in worry as he spoke of seeing things that weren't there, and she stepped forward cautiously as his brother urged the male inside. Afraid of being mistook for someone else and attacked herself, Asima kept herself mostly behind Solum. He, after all, had been Malum's bodyguards and Malum himself had admitted Solum was almost as good as him. A questioning gaze was through at Solum, before Asima gingerly held out the bowl for the King to see, "Y-you must be hungry..? Come inside and eat, Malum..." |
Malum shook his head, though Solum guided him inside to at least sit down. Solum turned to Asima, taking the bowl from her, "Go get rid of that horse before anyone sees" he told her urgently, "I don't know how well Malum could have kept from being followed like this, we need to keep anyone off the trail as long as possible while we figure this out."
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Asima didn't hesitant, nodding to the male. She mounted the horse, moving quickly inside the city after tugging her own hood over her face. News spread quickly concerning the royal family, and she didn't want to be seen and reconized, as small as the chance was. After checking the saddlebags for anything that could relate to them, Asima sold the horse, since it was a plain beast and would hopefully not be remembered, and paused on her way back to buy various food items. She hurried through all of it, not thinking Malum or Solum would mind that she'd used the money to get what she could to thank the slaves. They weren't allowed money, so this would hopefully be an okay second. The female carted the things to the poor village, ducking into the hovel and almost dumping the items on the ground in her haste. |
By the time she returned, Solum had gotten Malum to eat a little bit, and to try and rest. The King didn't look like he was going to sleep well though. These hallucinations were likely bothering even his dreams.
Solum stood and turned to Asima when she entered, "I don't know what to do" he told her, his eyes falling to the ground. He was worried, terribly so, "I don't know much about magic, how to use or stop it and this is clearly a powerful spell of some sort. Malum knew more about that stuff himself but I don't think he'll be much help in curing himself of this. We need help." |
Asima listened to Solum quietly, her head lowered. Her thoughts automatically flew to Lakar, and she shook her head viciously. If she was to get Lakar, and if the man helped, there was always the chance of Nemiah finding out. With how cold hearted her brother had been to her and then to their father's friend, she doubted he would be kind to the elder. She thought quickly, and selected the first item that popped into her mind: lying. "I...I don't know anyone who could do it..." The disowned girl told him, biting her lip and grateful for the hood that covered her head. She'd pledged loyalty to Malum, and maybe Keg was right, and she cared for him, but Lakar had already been through so much, she couldn't ask this of him... |
"Wouldn't Lakar help? Is there some way we could contact him?" Solum asked, "I can't think of anyone else, and if we don't help Malum-Well I'm not sure what will become of him, but it won't be good!"
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Asima's head fell, and she shook her head. "I can't ask him to...Solum, Nemiah was so cruel to him now! And before, when I snuck in, it would have been alright. I would have been punished, yes, but left alive. Now..." She hesitated, "I would have to sneak in to speak with him, and if I was caught now, it would mean Lakar and myself being killed! He has already done so much!" She fell silent once more, glancing towards Malum. Her previous words fluttered through her mind, hesitant and scared, I...pledge to protect you, follow you, uphold your morals and ideals, without question. Asima sighed, lowering her hood and glaring at the male. Despite wanting to simply throw a temper tantrum, she nodded, resigned. "F-fine. I gave my word to Malum...Stupid promises." She grumbled, before turning, getting ready to leave once more. |
"Asima" Solum placed a hand on her shoulder, "You must know, I wouldn't ask this of you if it was important... and you don't have to..."
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Asima nodded, glancing over her shoulder. "I know you wouldn't. And just ignore my words. I'm scared, is all. And yes, I do." She left, tugging her hood up once more with a sigh. She made her way back to the palace, stopping and checking the hole, praying to Ra that Nemiah had truly forgotten about it. |
Well at least something was going right, the hole was indeed still there.
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Thanking the God for honoring her prayer, Asima slipped through, glancing around nervously. She moved carefully, making her way to Lakar's room, listening at the door. Hopefully, he would be here, now that Nemiah was no longer having lessons. |
"... so when you use it, you must be careful not to let it mix with the wrong thing" Lakar's voice could be heard just through the door.
"Okay" Set's voice replied happily, "So what about this one?" |
Asima hesitated, before knocking gently. She wasn't sure if she could trust Set with this, but wasn't sure what other choice she had. She waited, glancing about her and tugging the hood a bit snugger over her face, wanting to be completely hidden at first. |
A moment later the door opened and Lakar looked down at her, "... hello?" he raised a brow curiously, though on a hunch he stepped aside to let her enter.
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As the older male moved aside, Asima slipped into the room, turning to face him. She lifted the hood slightly, keeping the corners so if Set was at either side, he still wouldn't see. Asima gave Lakar a worried, pleading look, hoping he would get the message. |
Lakar closed the door behind her, initiating a small spell upon it before turning towards her, "It's alright Asima" he assured her, "Have a seat"
Set's eyes widened upon the name, but he said nothing, only clearing off a place for her to sit down. |
The girl nodded, letting her hood drop and turned to Set, "Thank you..." Asima stated, flushing slightly. She still felt horrible for ordering him to help her. Sitting in the offered seat, Asima took a large breath, focusing her gaze on Lakar once more, "Lakar...something's wrong with Malum, something horrible! He says he's seeing things that aren't there, and seems so miserable...I don't know what's happened to him...He can't go on like this." She left off then, twirling her fingers and looking down in shame. Lakar would know what she was asking of him, she had no doubt, though Asima doubted his answer. |
"And you think that magic is the cause?" Lakar asked, although it was more of a statement. He looked to his aprentice, "Set, would you pass me that tablet book there?" he requested. Set did so, bringing him the heavy thing. Lakar had to unlock it just to look through it briefly, before nodding to himself, "this should help-hm" he paused and frown looking at something in particular, then closing the book and glancing around the room in thought. Nothing else seemed to come to mind, "I'll have to see him, but if it is what I expect, this will not be an easy task. Set, I will require your assistance as well."
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"Huh? OH! Lakar! Thank you so much!" Asima hopped out of the chair, pouncing on the male in a death hug, grinning broadly. She threw another smile to Set, though seemed a bit calmer. Asima began speaking, her words coming faster than normal, "He's not doing well...I can lead you to where we have been staying, when can you leave?" |
Lakar smiled a bit and Set quickly began gathering supplies that they would likely need. "we can leave immediately, and it's a good thing to. I'm not sure how much time we have before someone comes looking for that boy. He's always getting himself into trouble" he paused, looking at Asima, "will you need a hand getting out of here unseen?" he asked
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Asima glanced at Set doubtfully. "Set...Trouble?" She focused once more, shrugging. "A hand would be nice, otherwise I'll slip in the same way I came out and wait by the gate." |
"Not Set, Malum" Lakar corrected, "this isn't the first time I've saved his behind." Once they had everything they needed, Lakar sent set to gather a wagon with a horse. "Just slip underneath a blanket in the wagon, no one will even notice" Lakar instructed Asima.
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An eyebrow was lifted at this news, she'd thought Solum knew of Lakar because of the necklace. Asima obeyed the male, slipping inside the cart, though before she did, she glanced at Lakar, "You've got to tell me the story!" She exclaimed, chuckling as she made sure the blanket covered her body. |
Lakar smiled a little, and then Set sat next to him. Once they made sure everything was secure, they headed off, passing through the palace gates with ease. They stopped a little ways from the slave's tiny village, Lakar gave an egyptian villager a few gold coins to watch the cart and the horse for them for awhile. From there, they moved on by foot to be less conspicuous.
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