Hogun followed the auctioneer under the cover of darkness. The man had sworn that he'd paid Loki's mother her cut of the money, 1000 gold coins. His man servant attested to being witness to this, but that was not very convincing. Of all the people to have motive to kill the woman, it was this man. Hogun has been listening to reports from Heimdall, and though Heimdall can see and hear anything he focuses on, he cannot spend every second of the day spying on one man. He has other duties that are far more important. For this reason, Hogun has been leading a team of spies to trail the man and document his activities. Now that several weeks have passed since the murder, whoever committed the crime would start to feel safe.

He watched as the squat little man stopped at a stable and looked around to make sure he was alone before entering. He went to an empty horse stall and removed a very large stone from the floor, revealing an empty hidden space with a very large satchel inside. The satchel had the emblem of the treasury upon it.

"I hope for your sake, there are only a thousand coins in that satchel." Hogun said. The man whirled, eyes large with fear. More royal guards stormed into the stables and Hogun took possession of the bag as the guards hauled him away. At the palace the coin count was exactly two thousand.

XxXxXxXxXx

Loki sat with tears in his eyes as Thor sentenced the man to death. Relief and sorrow washed over Loki, and suddenly he was very tired. He maintained silence when the block and the axe were brought forth. He maintained silence when the man's head rolled away from his torso and landed at Loki's feet. And he maintained silence when the criminal's body was lowered into the bog of the damned, barring him from ever entering Valhalla. It was only when Thor presented Loki with the 2000 gold coins that he finally spoke.

"I don't want it. It's blood money." Loki said.

"Well I can hardly put it back into the treasury. It would render my purchase of you null and void, and we can't have that? Unless, that is what you want?" Thor asked.

"No. I am freer as your property than I ever was as a destitute peasant, and the palace is my home now. Your mother has quickly become my closest friend and educator in this place. I will find a use for this money. With it I will help peasants like me. Maybe save some omegas too."

"You have a good heart Loki, one that is quick to temper, but good."

"Your mother has been doing her best to instill patience in me. I see now that trust too is something I was also lacking. In spite of all the good things you have done for me, I still did not want to trust you. Not as my alpha, my King, or my friend. An old bad habit that I now see I must break. And having won justice by your methods I see now that patience does have its rewards. I shall strive, to let you in my King. Into my heart truly. I cannot thank you enough for all that you've done for me."

"I am honored Loki. I can understand your hesitation to trust me, to trust our system of justice, when it has failed you so many times before. I think I can learn a great deal from you about my people, and through our combined efforts, improve their lives. You make me very proud." Thor kissed Loki's hair and the two looked out at the sunset enjoying the shared growth between them.

XxXxXxXxXx

Loki sat with The Warriors Three and Lady Sif during dinner. Volstagg regaled Loki of his many triumphs in battle, and in his one triumph in love.

"Hilda's father is a cobbler. He makes very fine shoes, and a very fine income. I grew up right next door to her. I loved her long before I knew what she was. We didn't experience any of the strife or hardship that you have. Hilda's family did not have to sell her to make the rent. She was free to choose any Alpha she wanted and the dim lass chose me."

"That is a simple tale." Loki said, envious.

"Aye, it lacks the great heroics, and tales of intrigue like the story between you and Thor, but the love is real. As is the nagging, if I don't get home soon."

"No Volstagg, stay. Have another ale." Fandral said, as he always says every evening.

"One day you'll understand when you have seven children of your own."

"Good night Volstagg." Sif said.

"Good night lass. Try to keep his prick away from the poor serving girls tonight."

"Fandral's prick is none of my concern." Sif said as she shot her friend a wiry smile. Fandral flashed that brilliant white grin at her.

"It could be, if you wanted it to be."

"It is unwise for alphas to mate with other alphas. The odds of them having children together is extremely remote."

"Who said anything about mating. I just want one roll in the sack."

"And you shall have my knee in your crotch when next we fight."

"Mmm. You always know how to hurt me so good." Fandral said. Only Fandral could get away with talking to Sif like that. Were it anyone else, their nose would be broken.

Loki was sitting next to Hogun, who he now idolized. Loki never struck himself as the groveling type, but if Hogun asked Loki to kiss his feet, he would have. His devotion to the man is eternal. Loki sipped his mead listening to the friendly banter when a side conversation at the table behind him, pricked up his ears.

"Lord Darmouth has offered a gift of 200 gold coins to Sigyn's father." Loki heard some woman say.

"All that breeding and education, and what did it get her? She'll still be someone's bitch within the fortnight. She can kiss her highbrow clothing goodbye." She giggled wickedly. Loki recognized that voice. It belonged to that bitch omega Loki tried to make friends with several weeks ago. Loki did not know much about Lady Sigyn nor had he been formally introduced to her. He did know one thing. Sigyn's father was only a few tables away, and he had a pile of money back in his room.

"Excuse me." Loki said, fleeing from the hall. He returned within minutes holding 2 purses containing 250 gold coins a piece. He strode straight to Sigyn's father and leapt up on the table, garnering attention from everyone.

"Lord Denray, I have in my hand a total of 500 gold coins. Half of which I will pay to you for the rights to your daughter's virtue. The other 250 gold coins, is for your daughter, contingent that she leaves your household immediately and sets up her own home away from you. I make this offer only once and then it is gone."

"But you are an omega." Lord Denray said. Never has an omega bought another omega. "What will you do with her?" He looked at the King who was watching with curious interest as well.

"Nothing worse than the fate that awaits her if you sell her to someone else." Loki said. Lady Sigyn rose from her seat at another table and approached Loki and her father. She looked up at Loki with hope and trepidation. She was a lovely omega, with black hair and pale skin much like Loki's.

"What do you intend to do with me?" She asked.

"I intend to see you free to make your own choices. For you to be independent. For you to choose an Alpha, not for money, but for love." Loki looked back at Thor then and a small smile graced his lips. His face shone with affection and then he turned back to Sigyn. "I think being born an omega can be a wonderful thing. Our lives could be fairytales filled with love and happy endings, so long as we refuse to sell ourselves as whores. You can be more that what you are. I didn't know that several weeks ago, but I know it now."

"Father please." She said him.

"You have a deal Mr. Laufeyson." He said. Loki thrust one purse into his hand and stepped down off the table and took Sigyn by the arm, out of the room. He placed the other purse in her hand and led out of the palace.

"I know a boarding house in town, run by a very nice Beta woman. You will stay there tonight. You are never to return to your family home again. Tomorrow you will buy your own home. 100 gold coins will fetch you a nice cottage on the edge of town. 150 will get you something more towards the center of the city. You have a budget. Learn to live within it. 100 gold coins can feed and clothe you for a decade if you are careful. Have you had your first heat yet?"

"No, but I'm due for it anytime now. I'm at that age."

"If you have anyone in mind to marry now is the time to make your intensions known. If you don't have any prospective mates waiting for you, cultivate some. You don't want to be alone when the heat hits you. Trust me. I know."

"None of the men I expected to rescue me did. They all low-balled my father and refused to marry me. They only wanted a breeding vessel."

"You may be a Lady in title but financially you are now an unskilled peasant. You either need to marry well, or cultivate a skill to support yourself. I have bought you time. Use it wisely."

"Thank you."

"You can thank me by making something of yourself."