Chapter 7

A/N Sorry guys, I sort of hit a low after my grandpa's funeral, I only started to pick my hobbies back up yesterday. Not going to abandon this fic.I also noticed I switched between Bukhee's name every now and then, soon I'll fix that!

When Stieth had said Peg-Hee was going to make a feast, he wasn't kidding. Loki learned of the good deal he had been able to strike with the man, which would set Stieth and his family at least for half a year. "And what's more, the man said he knew a guy inside the castle who he sells the palace horses to. He was willing to pass the man onto me whenever he was without horses. He seemed to appreciate a honest man just as much as I did." Stieth threw his arms around Loki who was startled by the sudden movement. To be honest this all came as a little weird to him. He had been in the slums for so long now, he forgot what it was to have actual friends. Sure you had some people you might trust every now and then, but never with your life. He was surprised at how at ease he felt at this little family.

"There we go!" Peg-Hee said as she placed the food on the table. Loki was not ashamed to admit he cheered with everyone else as they cut the juiciest meat he had all year of the beast. He enjoyed the food and almost imagined him in the palace as if he were a king.

"Now don't get used to this, we rarely eat like this!" Peg-Hee said, but it was more to her husband then to Loki

Stieth groaned.

"Absolutely not, you'd eat us poor if I'd let you!" Peg-Hee said, grinning as she said it.

After the food was gone, not a single crumb of bread, bit of meat or piece of fruit left, Buk-Hee was ushered to his bed by Peg-Hee, leaving Loki and the Captain alone.

Stieth sighed. "Ah, I wish my brother was here. Well we weren't actual brothers you know. We were orphand, we grew up together and played together… we even went into the army together when… when the northerners attacked." A sad frown settled on his face. "We weren't the same after… Bukhee made a mistake." A sad smile formed on his lips. "Though it's just as much my fault, as I was the captain of our group. That's why they call me captain…" He seemed to shake off his memories. "No use dwelling on the past now, let's drink!" But when he raised his cup, he noticed Loki was staring oddly at him, puzzled.

"What's wrong?" he asked Loki.

"When the Northerners attacked…" Loki repeated Stieth. "Do you mean those across the border attacking the delta?" He asked.

"Yes, we were stationed in the delta to fence off any attack by them, to keep everyone safe, why?" Stieth wasn't sure where this was going and it wasn't a subject he liked to talk about a lot.

"W-were you stationed in Tanis?" Loki asked.

"Yes, yes we were." Was the answer as Stieth frowned even further. "Did you live there? I thought you said you lived near Abydos?"

"It's where we moved after something happened in Tanis." Loki was now fidgeting with his fingers, not daring to look Stieth in the eye, he was afraid of what may be the truth of things.

"That day, we had been hunting a group of foreigners, they pretended to be familes, with children and all, but every village we followed them to, it turned out even the young kids were able to fight as demons, whole families had been slaughtered, the livestock taken, houses burnt down. As we came close to Tanis we finally found them. Bukhee and some of his men took off after two kids as they looked foreign as well. I'm not sure what happened but by the time I got there, Bukhee's horse had trampled a woman… you can't possible remember, you must have been…" Stieth's breath hitched. Not only did he just realize that on that day, the boy his brother had assumed a foreigner, he had assumed so because of his unusual eye colour. Green… emerald green. And it were those exact same eyes that were pouring tears now as they stared up to him.

"Oh Ra!" he murmured while standing up, the wooden bench where he had sat on falling over. "Oh… Oh Ra! It was you… and… that was your mother,… I did not know!" Stieth started to cry himself. All those years he had wanted to ask forgiveness to the man and kids. "I should've ordered Bukhee to stay, I should've stopped him, I should've … done something, I…" But a hand grabbed his.

"You did what you had to do. Bukhee… did what he had to do. His horse… may have gone wild, or maybe my mum would still live if she didn't put herself in front of me, but… It was not your fault!" Loki said, still crying.

"But… you must hate me now, and Bukhee… We're the reasons your mother died! All these years.. I wanted to ask for forgiveness and Isis showed you the way to us!" Stieth said.

"There's nothing to forgive…" Loki said, fear filling Stieth's eyes. He didn't want Loki to hate him now and leave. "As I said… it wasn't your fault, Bukhee, though rash didn't knew what was going on. And if you had not been there, we could all have been dead." Loki sighed, wiping the tears from his face. "I guess this was just meant to be. If there's anyone to be blamed, it was me… I should've stayed inside, not have Thor persuade me to go out and play with him. Thor looks perfectly normal. I'm… a monster, with my pale skin and green eyes. I can't blame your brother to think I was not Egyptian."

Stieth grabbed Loki by both shoulders.

"Listen Loki. You're not a monster. You are different and people are afraid of different. Well screw them, I think you're worth ten of them… no a thousand. Such a smart young man, and a talent to tell a lie from truth. Anything else I can add to that list?" Stieth smirked.

"Well… now you mention it. There's an entertainment group in town… they were looking for dancers… and it's a way for me to get into the palace." Loki said. He could not tell Stieth, but to learn of the history behind his mother's death relieved him. No one murdered her, there was no one to blame. Even if so, Bukhee had taken his own life, feeling guilty about what happened.

"You dance?" Peg-hee said. She had heard all and decided to stay out of it as long as necessary.

"I can dance, a little, yes." Loki answered. "My mother taught me."

"Well then, go on, show us something!" Peg-hee motioned Loki to move.

"I can't dance well without music, I'm afraid." Loki said, smiling. "And I'm tired, if you'll excuse me, I will go to bed. Is it ok, if I try for the dancing? It's important to me. I will do the chores you asked me to do, of course!"

"Yes, Loki, a thousand times yes! I think Isis meant you to find us, to save our Bukhee, to save me, I can finally rest now you've forgiven me!" Stieth said, before wishing Loki goodnight. Loki may not look like his brother, but as he walked outside to get a bit of fresh air, Stieth whispered to the sky. "Did you hear that, Bukhee?… we are forgiven, let the burden slide of your heart so Seth will grant you access to the afterlife."

ooOOoo

In the palace things weren't as peaceful either. In fact, one could say things were quite chaotic.

Everyone was screaming, or running, or telling people where to go and what to do. And Tony who had just gone to bed with a massive headache was starting to get fed up by it.

He hadn't seen Pepper and Thor all day, his only entertainment in his three concubines, who were, to put quite frankly, boring. Capital "B", Boring. All these girls were interested in was nails, hair, their clothes, his clothes, gossips… oh and tearing each other down, sometimes even literally, to gain his favor. Well, he couldn't stand either of them and he would make that quite clear in the morning with his father.

But not right now, he had feigned tiredness, as his headache of the ongoing chattering was growing, and went to bed early.

No rest for the wicked, apparently because mayhem was happening, right outside his room.

When he finally got up and walked out of his room, a servant's eyes grew big and the man turned around, running. "Wha-what?" Tony asked. Was it something he had done or said?

When he finally found a guard he asked him what was going on. The man had seemed extra alert.

"Don't tell me, someone broke in and stole father's crowns?" He grinned, but the deadseriousness of his guard sort of put him out of the mood. "What's going on?"

"It's your father, your highness." The guard murmured, his eyes still looking around him. "It's best if you go back your chambers and stay there, I will follow you and guard your room." The man pushed Tony back in the direction he had come from. "What do you mean, my father?" Tony demanded while twirling around, facing the guard. Had he seen this man before in his chambers? Not that he could remember. Before anyone could say anything, the man raised his sword and aimed it at Tony. "Your father is dead, just as you will be, prince" The last word was spat as Tony rolled his body out of harm's way and made a run from the man. The man with the sword was equally fast and Tony was cursing his bad endurance and lack of sword at the moment. He felt the blade go over his head as he ducked, but the momentum made him tumble and he groaned as he hit the wall. He was on the side of his palace garden, looking out over the flowers that started to grow. He would die by some tall, tan and bald man, no one would know how he died. He would not whine or bed, he would die proud and brave, so he can look Horus in the eye.

"Finally stopped running? Good! I haven't got all night, you know?" The man smirked, he lacked some teeth.

"Good, nor do I!" The man yelped in surprise as a fist hit the side of his head as Thor spoke his words. Thor was in a bad shape. He clearly had been fighting multiple people, and cuts and bruises covered his body, not to mention the gashes from his whipping had opened again. He picked up the sword from the assassin.

"Thor…" Tony whispered. He had never been so happy to see anyone.

But before anything else could be said, a whole bunch of guards threw themselves on Thor.

"W-what?! NO!" Tony yelled trying to help one of his only friends.

"Anthonakton…" a voice said. "You live…" was that disappointment? "And we came here just in time, I see!" Obediah, his highpriest followed by even more guards. "This man was about to kill you, after he killed that guard?" He asked Tony.

"No, no he punched that man, then grabbed his sword… he… he saved me!" Tony said. "Again.." He looked at Thor whose face looked defeated down there on the ground. "Please let him go!"

"I cannot… I have reasons to believe he's in a conspiracy to kill you and your father." Obediah hung his head. "I'm afraid they succeeded half of it."

"My father…?" Tony asked, momentarily forgetting Thor.

"Dead! Murdered! By him and his associaties!" Obediah turned a finger to Thor, who was still struggling against the guards.

"No this is not true, I don't know what you speak off!" Thor shouted.

"Silence! Would you claim me a liar! We found evidence, in your room,… And in that of Peppers! Plans, bribes, everything!" Obediah looked menacing at Thor. "Take him away, lock him up!"

"Pepper?" Tony whispered. "No this must be a mistake, I-I can't believe it, I-I can't…" And Tony slumped down and fainted of the shock. Obediah ordered three of his guards to return Tony to his room. "You won't mind if I join those three, do you? I think our Prince needs every protection he can have!" someone behind him said.

Vali came from the shadows and Obediah looked annoyed at his presence. "I guess so."

They both stared at each other, both men promising the other they'll get what they earn.

And in that night the Pharaoh died, Thebes, or at least those who were awake, started mourning, those who deal with the last rites were risen from their beds to start working… the Pharaoh had lived a long life, and his pyramid had been ready for over ten years now. And the prince was guarded by at least one loyal guard, his most loyal guard was locked up in the dungeons, his best friend in the cell next to Thor and Rhodey was not allowed to leave his post.

A/N So another chapter is done! Hope you guys like it. I'm so sorry for being slow, but I'm eager to write more, and soon, so I may just write another chapter tomorrow! ^_^