Prologue
They were not in Asgard.
A cold thought struck Thor as he and Loki reached the edge of the swamp. The air smelled of smoke, humidity, gases, and energy heavy with magic. Nornheim.
A protectorate that belonged to Asgard, but technically the 69th rebellion against the throne was already underway... The 68th rebellion was one of the first battles where Thor fought his friends and brother.
Loki looked at him, it seemed that he could mock even with a speech-suppressing device. He looked at Thor, his eyes and eyebrows saying "Idiot".
The container with the Tesseract lay smashed on the ground, where the land met the water. The Tesseract light unsteadily. Thor didn't know what to do.
There was only one way to do.
He didn't like it, but he wasn't a mage. At that moment, he regretted never taking lessons from his mother. He removed the gag from Loki's mouth.
"Tell me how to get to Asgard" Thor pointed at him with his hammer.
Loki smiled coldly.
"Oh, does the Grand Prince of Asgard not know how to get home? Pathetic" he replied shaking his head.
"I won't..." Thor suddenly stopped as an arrow hit him in the shoulder.
"Thor!" Loki shouted.
Mages! Karnilla's people! Thor turned to fight them, but they immediately started using runes to block his hammer. Karnilla was always mean and cunning. Thor tried to blast his way through them with lightning
"Thor, if they finish the spell, it's over! Seidr will trap us and your hammer will be useless!" Loki said looking around at his opponents. "Release me now"
"Do you think I'm a fool?" Thor asked angrily.
"Yes, usually I do...but now it's not about you. Remember our last expedition to Nornheim! Karnilla will want our heads!" Loki shouted.
"She wouldn't dare...father..."
"As she didn't dare with the previous rebellions?" Loki looked at him. "You know I'm right, Thor. Karnilla will want our blood"
Thor had no choice. He destroyed the shackles with his lightning. Loki immediately threw himself in front of him to fight the mages who were firing spells from them from a distance. Loki created a shield to keep them safe. For a moment, Thor's heartbeat thought it was the same as before. He and his brother.
They had to get out of this alive. Karnilla would pay for this insult. Thor shielded his brother who was blocking the spells of 30 mages.
"Thor, when I tell you...run to the tesseract and get out of here" Loki said.
"I will not leave you!" Thor said.
"Thor, you have to do as I tell you. Otherwise we will both be taken prisoner" Loki replied.
"I will not leave you in the clutches of this witch!" Thor said.
"Let at least one of us escape alive" Loki replied.
"Loki...brother..."
"I may survive. Teleport to our hideout we last occupied" Loki said.
"Why didn't the tesseract take us to Asgard? I can go there, tell my father..."
"The tesseract is unstable, you can't risk it Thor! What if you end up in Jotunheim or somewhere else! Stick to my plan! I will try to survive in Karnilla's court, and you will pull me out! When I release the shield, run to the tesseract!
Thor nodded. When Loki released the shield, the mages rushed at him, and Thor ran into the depths of the slope. He heard the pursuit and reached for the tesseract. It worked.He was hidden in one of cave of mountains near of capital. Near Karnilla's palace. Loki... He left him. No. He will save his brother. Loki was his brother, he tried to protect him...maybe they can still...
***
Loki smiled.
"As I planned," he thought.
"Prince Loki?" the commander looked at him in surprise. "We thought you were dead! We didn't recognize you in these fumes, forgive me!
"I wish to meet with Her Highness Karnilla," Loki replied with a smile.
Now Odin and Thor will pay.
Oh, Thor...did you think I would forgive you for chaining me up and humiliating me in front of mortals?
The mages led him to their vehicle. A silver boat waited by the shore.
"Do you have a healer here? I was in battle and although some of my injuries have healed, but I am still exhausted," Loki said.
One of the women bowed and approached him with healing stones. "Of course, Your Highness. I don't have much, but I'll take care of you properly in the palace."
Loki nodded, taking a seat in the boat. The commander immediately approached him with a mug of beer and a tray with meat, bread, and a golden apple.
Loki felt good. No one took him so seriously in Asgard. Honestly, he didn't know that the people of Nornheim would be so hospitable to him. He knew they wouldn't kill him. After all, he was the one who informed the queen about Thor's foolish expedition and saved her crown. But he didn't expect such respect. It was nice.
Karnilla would certainly be happy to help him gain the throne of Asgard.