Chapter Ten: Around the Fire
By the time they reached the cave Loki could no longer sense Amora. He honestly didn't care that she had gotten away. He only disliked that he'd have to listen to Thor complaining about it later on.
The mouth of the cave was covered in smooth metal. Tony pushed on it and seams appeared on the surface, slowly forming two doors. Loki could sense a bit of magic as the doors swung open. He heard a strange whisking noise, but couldn't identify its origin.
"Your other guard will be able to open the door when he gets here." Tony had drawn the guard a map so that he could take a safer route for the horses. Loki almost felt bad for him considering it was starting to sleet. "The horses can come in too."
Past the metal doors was a large area covered in hay. In front of them was a wooden wall with an ornate door. The entryway also had a horse, though it looked hardier than any breed that lived in Asgard. In the corners were hides in the middle of being tanned and stacks of firewood. There was also a golden eagle with a rabbit in its talons. Tony whistled lowly and the eagle flew over, dropping the rabbit into Tony's outstretched hand. The raptor perched on the god's shoulder, towering over him. Tony seemed not to mind though.
He opened the wooden door and Loki felt heat radiate outwards. Thor and his friends practically moaned in pleasure as the cold was swept away. Loki began undoing his cloak as he observed his surroundings.
The inside of the cave was much larger than Loki had expected. Wards were written all over the walls. The ground was covered with wooden flooring. Against the walls was a large assortment of shelves that held anything from dried mushrooms to reams of strange cloth.
"You can hang your cloaks and weapons over there." He gestured to a series of hooks and half filled weapon racks. Tony took off his own fur ensemble, putting it into a chest. He had already dropped the rabbits near a fire pit and the golden eagle had found a perch on the footboard of a large bed.
Loki hung his two cloaks, but kept one of his daggers on his hip. Thor and his companions completely disarmed themselves. Loki did his best not to comment on their absolute trust. Even if Tony was an old friend they should still not leave their best defenses behind. Thankfully the three guards did not follow the older prince's example.
"Sorry for the lack of seating. I usually only have one or two guests at most." Tony unfurled pelts and placed them around the fire pit. "Feel free to warm up while I start up a stew." They all gathered around the fire, excluding the guards who kept their distance. Loki positioned himself so he could clearly see the formerly dead god. Thor followed Tony over to the slab of stone that jutted out of the wall and functioned as a counter. Tony moved around quickly, gathering ingredients before starting to peel a potato like vegetable.
"Friend Tony," Thor began and Tony turned to face him.
"Thor, unless you're about to help me cook go take a seat. We can talk once we've all eaten." Tony pointed the finger long knife he was using to peel at Thor as he spoke. "Now be helpful and take that barrel of mead to everyone. There should be cups on that shelf over there." Loki had to hold back his laughter when Thor looked completely baffled at being ordered around. There was a long pause before Thor did as he was told to.
A moment later mead in stone cups was passed around the fire. Loki watched with rapt attention as Tony continued cooking and the group around the fire whispered to each other. Tony skinned and gutted the two rabbits, giving his eagle the innards. He pulled out a large cauldron and tossed the cut ingredients into it. He added in dried meat and headed to a barrel, putting in some sort of liquid. Tony hung the cauldron right above the fire pit before returning to the kitchen area.
"You all are lucky." Tony uncovered a large loaf of bread. "Amora makes the best bread." Somewhere in the back of Loki's mind his thoughts went to his first name day when Tony was missing. He had made a joke about using Aesir bones to make bread. An image of Amora grinding bones came to mind, making Loki chuckle. Sif gave him a look, which Loki easily ignored. "I don't have any butter, but I do have honey." After passing out the bread and honey Tony finally joined them.
"Tony, you must tell us how you came to be in Niflheim and with Amora." Thor said while devouring this bread.
"My family got into some trouble in Svartalfheim and it cost them their lives." Tony paused, taking a sip of mead. "After leaving that realm I decided to travel around, being an adventurer. I've killed orcs for villages, helped capture a dragon for some Vanir nobles, and gathered items from all over the realms for those that would pay me. I have a house in almost every realm excluding Helheim and Muspelheim." Tony shrugged. "I saw Amora a couple centuries back in Alfheim so we caught up over drinks. We meet up every once and a while."
"Why did you never come back to Asgard?" Sif asked, looking sincerely hurt.
"There were no adventures to be had there. Asgard is too peaceful for me to have any fun in." Thor laughed loudly, making it clear that he agreed.
"I see that your sense of adventure has not changed at all Tony!" Thor clapped the other god on the shoulder.
"What about you all? Do you usually go to other realms on adventures?" Tony asked while glancing into the cauldron. He tapped the side and Loki felt a small jolt of magic. He gave the other god a questioning look, but Tony only grinned in response.
"Alas, my princely duties often get in the way, leaving such adventures to the guards." Tony laughed.
"Yeah, I remember you always whining about having to sit in during council meetings." Tony grinned widely and Thor's eyes narrowed. He reached for his side, not having remembered that he hung his hammer by the door. Before Thor could voice his needless sense of being insulted they were interrupted by the wooden door opening. The fourth guard walked in, covered in ice. "Wow, here, let me help you with that." Tony stood up quickly, going over to the guard. His hands glowed faintly red as he helped take off the stiff cloak. The ice quickly melted away.
"My thanks." The guard said before pulling out a handkerchief and blowing his bright red nose. Ice was crusted into his beard and eyebrows.
"Come warm yourself by the fire. Dinner is almost ready." Tony pulled over the guard who looked at Thor for permission. The prince still looked miffed, but nodded none the less. Tony went back over to the kitchen area, grabbing metal bowls and spoons. He served up the stew, even offering some to the guards who were stationed around the room. They refused though, eating straight from their rations as they were supposed to. Tony sat between Sif and Hogun.
The stew was nearly perfect, but Loki summoned a vial of cracked pepper so give it a bit of a bite. Tony raised an eyebrow at him briefly, but did not comment.
Tony was the first one to finish eating. He laid backwards, hands pillowing his head, not caring the least amount about decorum. The empty bowl was sitting on his chest. His golden eagle swept over landing by Tony's face. Sharp eyes peered down at the god before chirping. Tony waved the raptor away and it took off, landing back on the footboard of the bed.
Thor and Volstagg had seconds then thirds while everyone else was satisfied with just one serving. Tony collected the empty bowls and took them to the kitchen area.
"What are your plans for tomorrow morning?" Tony asked while sitting with the group again. The fourth guard had taken up position against the wall. Thor glanced over to Loki who was sipping his mead. It was a good brew.
"Amora is no longer in Niflheim. We'll have to go back to Asgard to ask Heimdall where she went." Loki answered Thor's unasked question.
"We are riding on to Asgard. You must join us Tony so that all of Asgard can rejoice and we may feast together as we once did as boys!" Thor raised his cup while smiling broadly. Tony glanced into his own cup, his expression unreadable.
"I suppose it has been a while since I've been home. I probably won't stay long though, perhaps just a year or two." Tony smiled suddenly, raising his own cup. "To Asgard and old friends!" The group toasted and exchanged smiles, although Loki's was a bit strained. He had never really been friends with Tony, though the sentiment was nice. Tony finished his drink. "It's about time we turn in if we want to rise at first light. I'd rather not spend a night out there just because we didn't wake up early enough." Tony stood. "I suppose you Odinsons can share the beds. I'll pull out some more pelts for the rest of you." Loki glanced at his brother who gave him a look that made it clear he wasn't going to share the large bed. Loki openly rolled his eyes, but did not comment.
Tony grabbed more pelts from one of the chests near the bed as the rest of Thor's group started unpacking their sleeping pallets. Thor began undoing his armor and Sif turned away from him. Loki held back a chuckle. This was her first adventure with them. She'd have to get used to seeing them all half naked if she planned on going on anymore.
Tony hung up a hammock in the corner of the room before blowing out the candles, leaving only the fire to light the cave. Loki settled into his makeshift bed, already divesting himself of the majority of his armor, though he did keep a dagger close. In the dim light Loki could see the glowing eyes of the eagle. They were almost hypnotic as Loki fell asleep.