Chapter 6 - Plan Alterations.

A/N – Let me start by telling you guys how sorry I am I haven't updated in so long, I have my reasons (they'll be at the end of this chapter) but here you go, another chapter, with the intent to update again this weekend!

Tony woke up with a massive headache only to have it worsen when his friend, Rhodey entered his chambers not even trying to be silent about it.

"Rhodey, it's too early to go stomping about someone else's room!" He whined as his friend entered his room.

"I'm not stomping and it's not early!" Rhodey countered. Sometimes his prince brought out the worse in him, for example when his prince was having a hangover, throwing a tantrum. "It's past midday, the Pharaoh was upset you weren't there to join in the meal, he had the three lovely ladies to accompany you as well."

"Well I don't care about him and his ladies. I'll pick whatever Queen I think is suitable for me on my own accord. No female is able to resist my good looks and charming nature." Tony whined.

"No female is able to resist the fact you're the sole crown prince, you mean?" Rhodey grinned.

"I'm sure that helps, but it's mostly my looks and good nature." Tony nearly pouted.

"Regardless, don't put the Pharaoh in a fouler mood then necessary, I saw the results on Thor yesterday and I don't want t.."

"Results on Thor?" Tony asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Thor's whipping went on behind your back then? Why am I not surprised. I'm pretty sure the High Priest had a hand in that. He has spies everywhere." Rhodey didn't really trust the High Priest. It was known that the man had ambitions for the throne himself. It would only take this long before he'd try something. For some reason Tony and his dad had an immense amount of trust in the man. As it was, whenever they were around he'd sugar up his act, but his jealous glances when he thought no one was looking didn't slip unnoticed past Rhodey and Pepper. Pepper would jokingly say 'we're all beneath him and unworthy of his attention and because of that he sometimes forgets we're there' but Rhodey was pretty sure that was true.

"I'm sure Obediah meant no harm, he never does, Rhodey." Tony countered, though a little sullen now he had learned of Thor's fate. "I'm sure he told my father with only my best interest in mind."

"Tony" Rhodey groaned. "Someone got whipped for being friendly with you, I highly doubt Obediah had anyone's but his own interest in mind."

"Enough, Rhodey, I wish you'd stop talking about that. Where did you come for anyway?" Tony was out of patience and Rhodey knew when he had to stop. Sighing he grabbed for the papyrus and left it on Tony's bed. "I have duties in town for the remained of the week; I was hoping you could give this to Thor."

"Sure, what is it?" Tony said grabbing the papyrus from the sheets. "Can Thor read?"

"I'm not sure, but I doubt it, seeing as he lived in the slumps" Rhodey answered "but it's addressed to him and his little brother… I think, I can't properly read either, remember."

"Ok, right, so I'll read it and then give it to Thor? Tell him what it's about?" Sometimes Rhodey wondered how the genius prince, that sometimes in his spare time created wonderful designs for flood-doors and tools, could not grasp something as simple as this.

"No you hand it to him, since it's addressed to him and his brother." He sighed.

"Okay, so I take it the little brother has now a spot in Thebes, where he can live his remaining life in peace?" Tony asked, pacing around the room with the papyrus and a fresh loincloth.

"No." Rhodey looked down. "He's either dead or something must've happened, he made it pretty close to Thebes but this tracks stopped there, leaving only this note. He must have been carrying it with him."

"Oh…" That certainly put a damper on things for Thor, even on Tony. "I see…"

"I'll leave you to get changed then?" Rhodey asked and Tony confirmed with a nod.

Rhodey sighed once more as he left Tony in his chambers to get changed. The prince simply refused fussing ladies to help him get dressed most days. Especially when he had a hangover. 'they simply give me more headaches' is what he would say if Rhodey asked if he had to send in servants. So Rhodey simply stopped asking.

He was to guard a temple for nearly a week, on request of Obediah, the High Priest himself. The man knew how close they were together and how much Rhodey didn't like the man. Ample reasons to get Rhodey away from Tony as much as possible.

ooOOoo

Loki was wandering around the house Stieth had welcomed him in. He had helped him feed the horses, filled the water basins and even groomed some of them. Later today they'd go into Thebes to try and sell some of them, as well as picking new young horses to grow them in respectable steeds. Loki had asked Stieth if he could wander around for an hour or so to see Thebes once they had reached the market. Stieth, the amiable man he was, had agreed. "A man has to see Thebes at least once in their life. Be sure to check the fishmarket as well, Peg-Hee has asked to bring back fish, so maybe you could see about that as well. Oh and the palace, stay clear of the guards, but it's a sight to behold for sure!" he had said. And that's exactly where Loki would go; to the palace to see if he could find his brother.

So when Buk-Hee grabbed him by his hand to drag him outside to go with him and his father to the city, he let himself be dragged, smile plastered on his face. This was as close to a family he had ever been since the incident in Tanis and he'd be lying if he didn't enjoy it.

"Are you ready?" The Captain asked him when he saw his son and new employee slash live-in walk out of their house. "It can be quite hectic!"

"I'm sure I can handle it, I'm used to quite an hectic life!" Loki answered, thinking about the slums.

"Yeah, but in Thebes, things are bigger, and everywhere people are trying to cheat you, steal from you or murder you just because you look at them the wrong way. Since you've never been to Thebes before I thought I'd warn you." Stieth smiled then motioned them to move.

When everything was settled for sale, Stieth was pretty soon engaged in discussions and arguments with fellow horse breeders, each of them claiming to be the best, breeding solely pure Arabian horses. Loki could tell lies from a mile, and he lost count of them in the few minutes he lingered. There seemed to be one other slightly honest breeder and he told Stieth, who nodded and went to talk to the man wishing Loki the best of the luck in town.

Buk-Hee asked if he could tag along, but Stieth told his son to stick with him. He may be naïve, but he wasn't going to send his only son with a stranger he just met.

Loki was glad, as much as he liked Buk-Hee, he really didn't need any distractions. So armed with a few coins to get fish, a healthy dose of adventure and a vast determination, he went and searched for the palace. Or rather an entrance to it, since the palace could not be missed.

On his way he looked around, and saw so many wonderous things he had never seen before. HE saw fruits and vegetables he had never heard of before. He saw people of so many nationalities, rich and poor. Rich officials from other countries fanned and carried by either Egyptian slaves or people from their own country. Poor begging souls as well, people that had tried their luck in Thebes, but ran out of luck. Soon they had to either start stealing, murdering or sell themselves as a slave.

He soon found what seemed to be a side entrance to the palace and he walked up the stairs to the massive wooden doors, raising his hood slightly.

"Woman, whatever qualities you have, the Pharaoh, the prince or the High Priest aren't interested. So take yourself and your pretty eyes somewhere else, before my friend here may take interest in them." One of the guards at the door said, pointing to another guard standing on the other side of the gate.

"Excuse me?" Loki asked, flabbergasted.

"Hahahahaha, it's a boy, Paia!" the second guard said, clearly amused about his colleague's mistake. "Though I'll admit he does look feminine, with those thin pale arms of his." He walked forward and grabbed Loki's jaw with his hand. "And with eyes like that you may almost forget he's a boy… Molok likes that…" Paia, the first guard huffed. "Molok, no distractions till after your shift, remember that! Before Obediah has your head for disobedience."

Loki really wanted to get away from Paia and Molok, but he had no answers.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I was wondering if you know about my brother Thor?" Loki asked, his voice soft. He was slightly intimidated by the two.

"Sorry? Thor? Never heard such a weird name before, so I'm pretty sure I'd remember it." Paia said. Loki doubted the man had the capability to remember anything.

"Besides we're not your personal search unit, now shoo, before I kick you off the stairs." Molok said, obviously annoyed about being denied his pleasures.

Before Loki could ask another thing the both of them grabbed for their swords. He decided he'd have to find out another way, talking to these morons wasn't going to result in anything.

When he nearly reached the bottom of the stairs, looking for another gate, he bumped into two persons. "You vile creature, watch where you're going!" The biggest of the two said. The other man had a dagger ready in his hand though he did not speak. He was wearing a big golden ring with a stone set in it, something that looked off on the otherwise poorly dressed man.

"My apologies… " Loki murmured.

"I should have him gut you, for your insolence." The biggest man said. "But he has to use his skills elsewhere…" he grinned. "Next time you see me approach, you may remember to bow before your High Priest." The man looked down on him once more, noticing his eyes.

"Why… Such pretty eyes. Hrmmm Maybe you could redeem yourself in my private chambers?" The man grabbed Loki's wrist. The shorter man whispered something in the taller man's ears.

"Hrmm, yes, I suppose that will have to wait…" He let go of Loki. "Maybe next time.." He gave Loki a toothy grin. It was quite clear what the man had wanted, just as the guard had. Loki was about to spit the man in the eye, when he remembered he had said he was the High Priest. Showing him any more disrespect would surely result in death penalty. And what good would that do Thor?

He bowed and walked off, as soon as he was out of sight of the two, he ran, as fast as his legs could have them. He nearly bumped into someone else, but this time he was able to stop just in time.

A crowd had formed around a group of people, some of them breathing fire, others mostly female, dancing in silks and sheer material. Loki was enchanted right away. His mother used to dance as well, and she had been magnificent. He had danced with her as kid, only to be dragged outside by his brother to learn how to fight. But Loki had not exhaled in fighting, not as much as his mother would praise his dancing. Male dancers were not uncommon, but still looked down upon, unless they were really good.

The man, obviously their group leader, now walked up to the middle. "We are the Fiery Djinns, we fulfill your deepest wishes and wildest dreams. Our group is made of people from different places. We ask for people that want to join in every town. So Thebes, do you have a talent among you? We'll be staying for a few months this time, so temporary talent is also welcome!" He held out a torch, blazing.

His eyes traveled the audience, lingering on a few young and pretty ladies near Loki. He held out his hand. "We'll entertain the prince on his birthday as well, in the palace, we're searching for suitable ladies and gentlemen to serve the food and drinks that accompany our act." As he was about to turn around and leave with the rest of his group. His eyes found Loki's. He lingered just a moment longer, before turning around.

That was it, Loki had enough. People would only ever look at his eyes, though this man's look was one of interest instead of the lust present in the eyes of the guard and the high priest. He pulled the hood of his cape further over his head, completely hiding his face in the shadow of his hood.

As he was about to turn around the corner, he felt a hand grab for his wrist. As a reflex he twisted it and used the momentum and his feet to tackle his assailant.

"By Osiris, I wasn't wrong about you!" Someone sounding half offended and half amused said from the ground. Curiously and less alert Loki dared looking at the person who had grabbed his wrist. It was the group leader that spoke earlier. His face turned from curiosity to loathing. The man had some nerve to come and follow him.

"What are you talking about?" he snarled.

"And a temper, so it would seem.." the man said pushing himself of the ground back up his feet. "I noticed your eyes… it's a shame to hide them!" he said grinning at Loki. Loki scowled even more at the blonde man, who was clean shaven except for a moustache, who looked at him with quite an interest.

"I'm fed up with people only ever noticing my eyes, it has gotten me in more trouble than they did me good!" Loki was about to turn around and walk off.

"Yeah, they're quite pretty, but what truly made me notice you, is you seem quite the acrobatic build. I may be wrong, but the way you just reacted… I think I'm right." He eyed Loki's legs, admiring the subtle muscles. "Have you danced before?" He asked out of the blue.

"When I was a kid…" Loki admitted. "I had lessons from my mother."

The guy smiled. "Why don't you visit us tomorrow, we're ride outside the city walls, quite noticeable, and show us what you're made of." The man turned around to walk away. "Unless you're not up to the challenge?"

One smirk, a challenge. Yes, there was no choice but to go and show this cocky man what he was made off. He'd have to ask the Captain if that was ok, though. Which reminded him he still had to go and buy fish. Which is what he did, before he rejoined the good man and his son, who boasted about their good sales that day. 'All thanks to you, Loki, you pointed out the right man! You're coming along every time we sell horses now! Come let's go back home and feast on Peg-Hee's delightful cooking!'

Loki smiled and threw his arms around Stieth's shoulders as the man placed his arms around Loki's, but as the man was babbling on amiably he turned his head to look at the palace once more.

'I'll come for you, Thor, I'll rescue you if I have to!' Loki thought as the palace disappeared behind the city walls.

A/N

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I found it hard to write, as I had some distractions.

As for the reasons I couldn't update sooner. I have been in the UK for a week, and had such a wonderful time I wasn't able to write, at all! When I returned I learned my granddad had died… Which came as a great shock as well. And today something bizarre happened as I picked up my Captain America shield. (there was a gunfight where I sort of ended up being in as I walked back to the car with the shield. Nothing's wrong with me, but… I'm just shocked.) And there you have it! But I will update soon, I promise!