Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters should pray for their good fortune.

Title: Liars and Cheaters

Summary: Sequel to "A Gods Proposal" and Prequel/Eventually Absorbtion of "Where to Levy the Blame" Time has passed since their journey, but not all is as it seems, and with the introduction of some new characters the best kept secrets will be revealed. Odin has broken the law with Loki's punishment, and now he must pay. Loki/OC Warnings: Rape and Torture

Author's Note: This chapter will lead into the big battle scene, which will be one of my favorite chapters to write in this story. Also, so far this is ending up much longer than I expected and I haven't even got into the main content yet. I am not going to emit anything and will continue to work hard to get chapters up, but soon I will be returning to college, meaning that the chapters might not be coming up as frequently. Don't worry though, for I will not abandon this fic because I don't believe in not finishing what I start.

~[~ (Sif's POV)

When she had returned to the library it had been in a hurry, for she remembered what dark creature usually lurked there. It was not that she despised Loki anymore, it was just that she was in charge of looking after the princess, and he was not someone that she felt would be a good influence or represent a good impression of Asgard. She was afraid that he might manipulate her, since that was his specialty after all, and then she would be in big trouble. Odin had specifically told her to keep a close eye on Karmin, for she was the daughter of their most precious ally, and had a tendency to cause a bit of trouble herself. Sif could see what he was talking about shortly after meeting her, for she was not one to take insults lightly, and Sif had a feeling that she could stand on her own just fine.

She knew that Karmin was beginning to resent her for watching her so closely, but Sif had been certain that she was doing the right thing. It was obvious that she was still looking for Loki, anyone could see that she had taken to him immediately. It made sense in her mind, since after all they were both devoted to magic. She really didn't try to dictate the lives of others, but since she was currently responsible for her it would reflect badly if she didn't at least try to keep her on the right track while she was here, and that meant away from him.

~[~ (Karmin's POV)

Sif was staying much closer to Karmin now, and making sure that she didn't wander off. Karmin appreciated the fact that she had a guide to show her around Asgard, but she was not a child and was growing quite tired of being treated like one. She also had not had a babysitter since she was six-hundred and forty years old, and now at one-thousand and thirty-five she was quite positive that she was old enough to take care of herself. Not that it had really mattered, for she never obeyed her babysitters anyway, and the deals that they tried to strike with her never went in their favor.

She was trying to discover who the mystery person from the library was while keeping Sif from finding out what she was up too. She had a feeling that Sif would not approve of her questions and she was not in the mood to fight with her just yet. After all she had made a promise to her father and she had decided that she owed him at least a day to thank him before she cheated her way out of it. She wasn't having any luck though because everyone she asked either looked confused or nervous yielding her no answers. It did not help that she did not know anything about him aside from what he looked like, and that he had his magic bound. She kept her eye open hoping to catch sight of him again, and if she did she would be sure to find out his name and more, for tracking someone down in this place was a nightmare. Her guide and her friends had refused to talk about him, and had kept too much milder subjects since running into him. She wasn't completely hopeless though, for she learned that there was a huge party tonight and that most of the palace would be in attendance.

Sif was guiding her toward the training grounds again, just as the mysterious man had said. Karmin had a feeling that she was doing so because there they would be unlikely to run into him. It seemed that the warrior was also friends with a lot of people here, and those that weren't certainly respected her. Sif was tough and Karmin admired that about her, for she wasn't a pushover herself. Also, most of the warriors she seen on Asgard were men, with hardly any woman gracing the training grounds. So it seemed that Sif was one of the few woman brave enough to become a warrior, and she also pushed that women were just as good as men. She and Karmin would certainly get along fine over that at least.

Soon they had surpassed the training grounds arriving at the sparing grounds where she again saw Sif's familiar friends. However there was someone else with them now. He was larger than the rest of them, save maybe Volstagg, but he looked to be the strongest. He resembled the king in a way, except younger with long blond hair. He seemed to be a jolly person, for he laughed whole-heartedly at the jokes told by those around him, yet she could tell just by his posture that he was arrogant. He held his head high and his hammer near his side swinging it around carelessly at times. Perhaps he was the king's son. She had heard about the children of the other realms but never really paid much attention to the things she learned about them.

Sif was elated to see this new man, and it was quite apparent that she had a thing for him by the way she hurried to him and swooned over him. Karmin approached slower taking in the situation, and subject as she moved closer, for one could never be too careful. He smiled as she approached and Sif was introducing her.

"Welcome Princess Karmin to Asgard, I am Prince Thor Odinson, the heir to the throne of Asgard! I hope that you find everything to your specifications and enjoy the great feasts we have here." His voice was loud and booming, and even though she was outdoors she still believed that it was unnecessary. "Sif tells me you are a fighter and that you are considered the best of your people. You will have to tell me of your great adventures." Clearly he wasn't an unkind person, perhaps a bit naïve but she had no problem with him so far.

Sif turned to her then. "Fandral has challenged me to a quick spar, so I hope that you do not mind waiting a minute. Don't worry I will finish him off quickly." Sif winked and Fandral looked indignant.

"She jests I assure you." He also winked and she rolled her eyes at their antics, but decided to stay back and chat with the others. Perhaps she would notice the mystery man if she looked around, for the town was visible over the slope of the sparring area, and she could see through the palace windows.

They got started and Sif proved that she was a fierce and agile fighter. It was clear that Fandral was working hard to keep up with her, and not get knocked out too soon. While she watched them exchange blows Thor was blabbering about one of his journeys and how much fun he had smashing apart his foes. She was half listening as she scanned the area looking for the person she desired to find, but discovered no trace of him. She was beginning to notice that he looked different from most of the residents of the planet, for very few had such dark hair and she had yet to find anyone with such pretty eyes. Also, most of the residents were muscular and tan from the amount of time they spent in the sun, yet the man she was looking for was very pale and though he was no weakling he didn't appear to possess the strength of the others.

As she scanned the area looking for him Thor turned to her. "I have been speaking of my great exploits, but I have yet to hear any of yours yet princess. Why don't you tell us of your great adventures?" He laughed heartily and she sighed.

"Well I doubt they would be of any great interest to you based on what I have heard about your trips, but I suppose." He nodded and gave her a happy and hopeful smile, clearly interested in the culture that had been working with his for so long. "Well as you know my realm specializes in sorcery, and we often have great tournaments where the most powerful magic wielders in the land compete for the grand championship. I have been competing since I was five-hundred, and I won my first championship when I was five-hundred and fifty. I have been undefeated since." She finished her talking but noticed that they did not seem very impressed. They were all pouting and exchanging glances.

Thor furrowed his brow and then smiled. "Ah yes, I am also a champion at sparring here, but what about your great exploits in other realms."

"I usually remain in my realm and don't often compete in other realms, though I have won the few competitions that I have been invited to." Karmin replied, ready to defend her position because she could tell he was about to make an undignified comment.

He laughed again loudly and looked to his friends. "I see, so it appears that the Rinigardians do not partake in much combat, and I have heard that you all prefer to stay on the sidelines when you do." He seemed to think that it was a perfectly acceptable reply.

Karmin was now fuming, and she wasn't about to let this idiot insult her realm so callously. "Well perhaps we prefer not to try to make war with every realm in existence over trifle matters, and I have heard that my people usually take up a position defending your army to prevent ultimate destruction."

Thor was not amused now, and he waved his hand dismissively while his friends continued laughing with him. She noticed that Fandral and Sif had been distracted by them and were laughing with Thor. "Princess, I am sure that your people are very valiant, but they cannot hope to compare to the strength and fighting ability of Asgard." Karmin stepped forward a bit crossing her arms and glaring at him now. "The use of magic makes you naturally weaker in battle, especially when wielded by women such as yourself, though I don't doubt your ability to do the best you are capable of." A chorus of laughter rang out from his peers, though Sif looked a bit unhappy with his comment about woman.

As far as Karmin was concerned it was now on, for he had insulted her home, her sex, and her person, and now he was going to learn why it was a bad idea to underestimate her. "Well you are confident aren't you?" She spat back at him drawing his attention. "Well, since you seem so confident that your people are so much better, then I challenge you to a duel. You should have no problem since you are better right?" She made the sarcasm obvious enough so that even he would get it. The rest of the warriors looked shocked and some gasped at her request, so she smirked earnestly at Thor's taken aback expression.

He laughed nervously this time, and by now he knew that he had insulted her. "Why princess, that is hardly necessary, for I wouldn't want to hurt you." She was officially going to wipe the floor with him. "Come let us resume pleasantries and celebrate our great alliance."

He was trying to smooth things over but he was way too late for that, and she was too angry to consider it now. "Oh don't worry, I'll be fine, but you might want to notify the healers that you will be visiting them soon. Meet me back here in twenty minutes and we will see who comes out victorious."

She noticed how his expression softened and he looked at her with pity. "As you wish princess, for I hope that this will settle your anger."

She flashed him a quick smile and teleported to her room quickly to get her things. She had brought her gear because she was expecting something like this, and now she was glad that she had for Thor was going to feel the blunt of her wrath. She absently wondered if she should magically put soap in his hair before she used him like a mop to clean the surrounding area.

~[~ (Thor's POV)

He was in the room that they used to store their weapons and armor preparing for the duel. He was extremely embarrassed to have been challenged by the princess of their greatest ally to compete, especially since she was not only a woman but one with no weapon fighting skills, or so he believed. He hoped that she would show up with a sword or something but he doubted it.

She had been so upset by his comments about magic use in battle, but he believed it was true. His brother provided the perfect example, and had once challenged him to a similar fight to prove he could win, which failed miserably for him. On Asgard it was a fact that brute strength always topped magic, and so he believed that the poor princess stood no chance against him. He would try not to make it to humiliating for her though, and he hoped that his father would be able to forgive him for this later.

He continued to put on his more protective armor when Sif walked up to him. "You fool, I told you that she was a fierce woman and a fighter at that. The comments you made were way out of line, and you may have caused a huge problem between Asgard and Rinigard." Sif was clearly angry and he was a bit afraid that she would beat him horrifically before Karmin even returned.

"What do you expect me to do then Sif, allow her to win." He scoffed letting her know that that was not a possibility.

"No, but I do expect you to watch your mouth and learn how to use your tongue." She approached him and slapped him hard across the face. "That was for all the women you offended today including me."Thor stood there rubbing his cheek as he watched her leave, thinking about how everyone was overreacting.

He certainly felt bad that he was about to embarrass Karmin, but he wouldn't throw the match for her. If she wanted to fight so be it.

~[~

So who do you think will win: Karmin or Thor? I wanted to write the battle scene today, but the dialogue ran longer than I thought, so in the next chapter someone is about to be humbled, but who?