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Loki checked on their humans regularly by both spell and in person to the point that Thor noticed. The fact that both Princes had basically adopted the quartet no matter how unconventionally was hardly a secret. Equally, the palace and the court seemed to be fascinated with the hold they had on Loki's attention. Loki still acted successfully as Regent but he didn't bother pretending to be Odin after Thor was through announcing what had happened. It made things both easier and harder.
"Both Stark brothers are my Shield brothers but I can not judge their partners. They would be more in your realm of knowledge, brother," Thor confided to Loki one morning.
The four humans had been given quarters in the palace in part to keep them near the healers and in part because of Thor's claim as Shield Brothers. The fact that it seemed to help focus the two Princes on the situation and also resolve several conflicts between them peacefully made the palace staff more than willing to tolerate the humans. Everyone could tell that it was also easing the transition between Loki ruling under an illusion to him ruling openly as Regent. The fact that he regularly dragged Thor into at least being present while he performed his duties as Regent now that he was exposed was looked on with great favor and more than a little surprise.
"They are not coercing either Man of Iron that I can tell. In fact, from what I have gleaned they were originally healers and retrained as Sorcerers. The elder has been going out of his way to the point of exasperating his Stark to gain consent for taking further liberties. Although, with the bindings between them it is unnecessary," Loki explained thoughtfully. "The younger pair... Stark is leading instead and treating the younger Sorcerer as though he is a wounded stray. It is remarkably effective which makes me wonder what caused the difference between them. Do not try to drive a wedge between any of them. The backlash will only bring disaster."
"I would never!" Thor protested.
"You misunderstand," Loki said dryly. "You may witness others making such an attempt. You are to perform your duties as their shield brother and prevent others from trying."
"Ah! That I can do!" Thor said brightly.
"For them to take the risk of Time Travel is a reckless and dangerous thing," Loki warned seriously. "They must be given all aid. This is more than the Prophecies and Sight that Frigga witnessed and recorded. This is more than those things Odin acted on. We can not be blind to the risks they are taking nor the changes they must make."
"I understand," Thor said, more subdued. "Would seeing they were outfitted as befits an honored warrior of Asgard be of benefit?"
"I do not know," Loki admitted ruefully. "Unfamiliar tools can cause more harm than good. Rather we might see if they are willing to be fitted for appropriate armor and given tools or weapons. I plan to bring the Men of Iron to the workshops with their armor. They may need it to care for the armor without their normal tools and might even add some too it. The Sorcerers... I will escort to the library and a meeting with the Mage's Guild. I would ask that you see if any of the older warriors and trainers would be willing to help them train. Preferably ones that would be welcoming to using magic, tricks, and unusual tactics. I believe they have all crafted if not their entire fighting style from nothing then that they have heavily customized it to themselves. Those willing to work with them must be willing to help them improve on what is already there rather than scorn them for not fighting as Warriors of Asgard are taught."
"Aye, that makes sense," Thor agreed. "I will seek out those who might be willing to aid in this."
"Ensure that they know there will be extensive training with magic due to unusual circumstances and it must become part of their abilities to fight," Loki warned sternly. "If they fail at this I will teach them myself and they will have increased the risk to Asgard as I correct whatever they attempted to instill in the humans."
"Our humans," Thor agreed with a happy but thoughtful hum. "Very well. Perhaps we should simply have you teach them in a separate practice from any other trainers? That way it is less of a concern."
"We will see," Loki said. "For now we have other thing to situate them with first."
"Aye, brother. I will see you at the evening meal," Thor said cheerfully before heading for the training grounds to work on his assignment.
Loki shook his head at Thor's antics and headed for the office he had been using as Odin. He had duties to the realm to attend to before he could see to their humans. Thor had been right to correct him after all, the humans were under their joint protection and it did not do well to forget that.