"KANE!"

Max launched himself at his brother and gathered him into a strong embrace. He was so surprised that he didn't even have time to draw his dagger, never mind stab him in the back.

"Er... hello..."

"Ike, this is my brother, Kane. How's my nephew?"

"Ian? He's not with you?" the young man scratched his head. He was the same height and build as Max, looked around the same age, but had wild, spiky grey hair and a strong Runefaust accent, "He's not allowed in the Guildhall and I have work to do, so I told him to go hang out with you."

"He's supposed to be with me! He's in serious trouble!"

"Oh, you have a little nephew too, Max?" asked Ike.

"He's not little any more." said Max, "He tries to kill me too, now."

"Hey, you tried to kill him first!" said Kane.

"I was mind controlled! The same as all those times when you tried to kill me, remember?"

"Which times was I mind controlled, again? I lose track."

"Yours sounds like a happy family." said Ike.

"Its our mother's fault." explained Kane, "She named me Cain on purpose, and sent me to Runefaust with a letter of tenure to the Guild, just so I would grow up my brother's enemy. We've been set up by fate to try and kill each other ever since. Even now, in times of peace, where we can't possibly be on opposite sides of a war and the Guild never commissions me to kill him any more, he owes me half a million gold. Don't think I'd forgotten, by the way, you deadbeat loser. Where's my money?"

He emphasised the last sentence by freeing himself from his brother's grasp, shoving him backwards and reaching for his knife. Max reached for the Chaos Breaker, which had found its way back to him.

"And I thought Ike had family problems." Hector said, earning a back-hand from Ike.

They were halfway across the huge chamber by this time. Max noted that it was still under construction. By its design, it was built around some old Nazca temple that Geshp had paid someone to dig up. They descended a staircase, which wound for several flights, before they emerged in a similar chamber which was giving away to a natural cavern. Remains of the larger structure still stood here and there, a sandstone pillar, a slab covered in heiroglyphics of birds, eyes and people doing despicable things to each other.

The cavern narrowed after a while and split off into junctions. There was now only space for two to stand side by side, so Hector grabbed Kane and Ike grabbed Max to try and pry them apart and hopefully keep them alive for five seconds. They took the third right. At the end of the corridor was a stone dais that glowed pale blue.

"This is the teleporter." explained Kane, "You wanted the Crypt Ruins, right? Just take the second left, walk straight on past three turnings and climb up. Watch the swinging blade trap, the flagstone's marked with a cross so Panzer remembers where it is next time. Remember to sign yourself out."

"You're coming with us." said Max.

"Oh, I am, am I?" he folded his arms, "You're in no position to make demands, you..."

"This isn't about me. Ike and Hector's friends are in trouble."

"Why should I care about some friends of yours I've never met before in my life?"

"Well... they're kind of my enemies... potentially... I know how much you like my enemies..."

"They're my enemies as well!"

"You're from Runefaust, right?" Hector snapped his fingers, "We haven't been to Runefaust yet, have we, Ike?"

"Nope, only Guardiana." said Ike, "Can we go to Runefaust next, after Odegan? You'll take us, right, Max?"

"What the... Max, why haven't you shown them around Runefaust yet? We had an agreement!"

"Well, I don't know the place as well as you. And I may still possibly be a little unwelcome there. Permanently. On pain of death."

"Max, you moron!" Kane snarled, "Can't you do anything right? I was so determined to stay out of this stupid project of yours so I can get some work done, and now Ian doesn't turn up to take my place and you get yourself banished from somewhere again! Right, you lot, I'm taking over this mission!"

Kane pushed his brother aside, taking another swing at him with the dagger, then walked through the teleporter.