Kane's back was leaned against the tree as he watched over the camp. The dying fire spewed out gray smoke, with a lovely pine smell. The air blew by across Kane's cheeks, keeping him awake as he took watch. The clouds were a beautiful white and the sun was in the distance, rising slowly. Dawn approached, and Kane couldn't help but notice the young women stirring. Yalin's curly hair had started to become long and stringy. The young women's round knout face scrunching before wakening.

"How'd you sleep?" Kane asked, as he starred out into the distance.

Yalin blinked tiredly before she answered, "Like someone who slept on the cold hard ground next to a fire. What did you expect?"

"I'll try and get you a bed tomorrow night." Kane replied softly, "Will you be ready to travel in five?"

"I assume that's possible, saying I only have a blanket." Yalin said, with a raised voice.

"Is something wrong?" Kane asked.

"I don't know, it's only your fault that we're out here in the woods in the first place!" Yalin yelled.

"And with assassins at your back, where would you rather be?" Kane inquired.

Yalin was silent, even though she was no big camper, Kane had a point. This was a fresh start; no one could find them here. No assassins no enemies they were free. Even though it felt she had left her home just yesterday. Kane swooped down, grabbing the blanket, into his hands. His eyes focused on Yalin's, as he rolled the cloth into a nice slender cylinder. Kane's eyes showed no signs of humor, or remorse. His bags under his eyes proved he had been up all night.

"Let's go." Kane replied.

The trees shifted as they walked through the woods, bunnies hopping across the forest floor. Bugs ate at the damp ferns, and decomposing leafs. Deer looked intently at the traveling man and young women, readying to leap at any given moment. The birds sang, as the stream in the distance echoed. The air was so fresh, something that was gone on every planet owned by the Galactic Alliance.

Kane's foot hit against the floor like all hunters did, when moving through the forest. Yalin's graceful stride didn't even come close to the unsettling silence Kane's foot did. Even haven been a princes, her feet and legs were untrained to move in silence across a forest floor, or to endure it. Yalin realized that compared to Kane, she was spoiled, and a brat. Why Kane could even put up with her was beyond her, she couldn't even put up with herself half the time.

"Kane, I have had a question for some time that I've been meaning to ask." Yalin said, starring at the man a foot taller than her.

"Go ahead, I promise the truth." Kane replied.

"Why have you protected me, and continue to do so? I don't understand, you must find me annoying and a burden. You must look at me as a spoiled brat, who can't even walk through the woods."

"I have sworn to protect you, Princes Yalin Vibe, until death. I've been an assassin, for twenty years of my life, a soldier for five, a guardian for a week, and out of all those jobs I found only one that was truly fulfilling. I tried to correct the mistakes of my past, I tried by being a soldier, but they don't really protect people any more. That's why, Yalin Vibe, that's why I have stuck with you. Besides that, I am a man of honor, and I have promised to protect you till death."

"I don't understand. Not entirely." Yalin replied.

"I don't expect you to understand. Regardless I have taken a vow." Kane answered.

While they talked, they had come across more rocky terrain. Kane had leaped over a stone, before glancing back at Yalin, and offering his hand. The stone Yalin climbed, was slippery from the stream that tour through the giant stone.

"Another question," Yalin asked, as Kane steadied her.

"What?" Kane asked, with indifference.

"It is said, that the people of Ka-Kadocsh are decedents of gods, even if they have a mix of human blood. Now it's just something I came across in a book, so I'm not expecting it to be true. And I'm not really the religious type."

"If there is a God, or gods, then I assume we are all decedents of them. As for this world, I have no idea of religious aspects." Kane replied, factually.

"So that's a no?" Yalin asked.

"No, miss Vibe. That is if you believe in religion yes, if not, we are a superior evolution of man." Kane said once more.

"So a no for me, then," Yalin questioned once more.

"If you don't believe in God," Kane answered once more.

"Do you believe in God, or gods?"

Kane scoffed, before giving a reliving smirk. He turned his head back at the young lady, as they continued to walk.

"That's irrelevant." Kane replied turning back.

Within sight, over the horizon the castle of stone seemed to loom, taller and stronger. Kane looked closer as he saw a stream of smoke off into the distance, not far off. It had a been one full day sense he had any water or food, but he wondered if the fire was a necessary risk.

"Kane, is that smoke in the distance?" Yalin inquired.

"Yes," Kane paused, in thought, "Following me and my directions to the teeth. If I tell you to stop, you stop. If I tell you to run, you run. Understand?"

"Yeah, I think so." Yalin said with a fragile voice.

"Do you trust me?" Kane asked.

Yalin starred into the man's yellow eyes wordless.

Kane turned back towards the smoke, motioning with his hands for Yalin to follow. It was only a matter of minutes before they reached the camp sight. A band of warriors surrounded the fire, as the cheered on. Inside the bands marry circle, was two men fighting, mixing with the blood and dirt.

"Stay put." Kane whispered to Yalin as he climbed a tree with perfect stealth. He hung from a branch as he starred down at the marry group. The group had resolved their scuffles, congratulating both men for their valent fight. They all took one last gulp of their drinks before turning the other way, finding whet stones to sharpen their blades.

Kane stealthily dropped out of the tree in front of Yalin. Quickly Kane held his hand against her mouth, muffling her startled screech. He held his finger to his lip.

"They have some sort of drink, from the looks of it, ale. I'm going to go in there and steal what I can, again wait here, don't move, and stay hidden. Belly to the ground," Kane said as he backed away into their camp.

Yalin obeyed his orders, her black shirt, against the dirt, as bugs crawled around her. She heard a hissing sound beside her, at her side. By her pelvis laid a snake, starring right at her. It's tongue seeming to sass her for the worry in her eye. The diamond pattern on its back, told Yalin it was venomous. She took a deep breath as a spider slowly descended onto her back. Judging by area it took on her back, it was the size of a grown man's hand. Regardless, Yalin stayed still, even though she was dying on the inside to scream and run.

Kane slipped by, crouched to stay lower to the ground, as he dashed to get to the water supply. He took a barrel, of whatever substance they were drinking, as he dashed back to Yalin. He glanced at the spider on her back and flicked it off. Yalin breathed in, as Kane unknowingly slammed the barrel down over the snakes head.

"I can't do this Kane." Yalin said stressed out.

"I'm going back in there for food, stay put." Kane replied with his eyes wide.

Yalin nodded, as she lowered down to the ground once more. Kane ran off into the distance, in search for sustenance. Yalin closed her eyes, thinking of the beautiful flowers she had seen moments ago. Suddenly, something had touched her lips, she opened one eye. Within her sight was a centipede crawling across her mouth. Yalin instantly jumped into the air, shaking the bug, as she screamed.

Kane looked back, instantly, as he heard the young women's cry of fear. He looked back for a second as one of the men threw a punch. Kane dodged just in time, as he slammed his elbow into the attacker's thick throat. Behind him loud foot prints could be heard charge at him. Kane ducked, as the sword went over head. Kane followed by a kick to the abdomen, knocking the female warrior to the ground. It was only seconds when the others had him surrounded.

Yalin had climbed the tree the way she had seen Kane do it. Glancing below her now, she watched as three balled bulky men walked underneath her.

"Miss, we heard ye. Be ye alright?" The men called out.

Yalin might not have trusted Kane Reuben, but she knew his judgments were sound advice and she trusted these men even less than the assassin. They both held a one edged blade, across their backs with and orange over coat, mad of true leather. Their muscle built was rather lean, and voices a soft deep tone.

"We won't hurt ye miss, we just want to help out." Another called out.

Kane glanced around, surrounded by three men, and two women. He knew the other two on the ground would join soon.

"What be ye your reason of stealing from us?" a woman asked, with dark skin.

"I'm in need of food, and water. I apologies for my hostel acts, I didn't know if your group was friend or foe." Kane answered honestly.

"Ey, and now that ye are in our hands, ye beg for your life?" the dark skin lady asked.

"Eliba, Why not just slay him?" A tall bulky man asked, with a Mohawk running down his head.

The dark skinned woman looked at Kane as he stood arms by his side. Kane tightened his jaw, he knew almost every martial art in the galaxy, and mastered all but one. He had to take this people, on, even though he wished not to kill them.

"I don't beg for my life, especially when I can take you all on. I just rather not have killed you." Kane said coldly.

"Eliba, he must be a warlock, or a necromancer! We should kill him now before he has a chance to cast a spell!" The Bulky man yelled.

"Galivan, if he be a warlock, he wouldn't have to steal in the first place!" The dark skinned women replied, "Who are ye? And why threaten us so?"

"I'm Kane Reuben, and I never say anything I can't back up. I have a family, and we have been traveling in the woods for two days, with no food or drink. And I assume you are Eliba and Galivan?"

"Ey," the dark women replied, "I be Eliba. Are you an assassin here to kill us?"

"Stop asking and just kill him already!" Galivan shouted.

"No, I'm a guard. Not sent by any one, and not seeking to kill any one unless necessary." Kane replied.

"Eliba, we have enough troubles as it is, we already were forced out of the Hall of Delega."Galivan responded.

"Maybe I can help, in exchange for food and water?" Kane suggested.

The group stared at the fair, dark skinned woman. Eliba darted her eyes into the sky, thinking for a moment. She knew this man was defiantly something special; he had taken on three men of the band of Delega. She knew this Kane, couldn't be trusted, but with him, she might just stand a chance. With his fighting abilities, he might be exactly what they needed.

"Ey, I here yah," Eliba spoke up, "what makes you think we need your help?"

"The fact that you're at a camp, and not at your Hall," Kane replied with no sign of friendship.

"Hmm," Eliba started.

"Eliba, you can't be serious can you?" Galivan quarried.

"Alright, I'll give ye, a chance. I warn yah though, try anything, and we have nine folk ready to take you on." Elibe responded, as she sheathed her sword, across her hip.

"Thank you, for you chosen trust." Kane replied, as he stuck out his hand.

Eliba stared at his hand, not knowing what to do.

"You gonna kiss me hand?" Eliba said, as her cheeks blushed.

"I was offering a hand shake," Kane replied.

"What?" Eliba asked.

"I sign of friendship." Kane replied, as he moved his hand by his side.

Galivan scoffed. Eliba darted her eyes towards Galivan. The man gave her a shrug as he tried to justify innocence. The group had finished sheathing their blades, and Kane began to walk towards the tree line. His actions calm, though worry entered his mind, about Yalin. Just three feet away, Galivan placed his hand on Kane's shoulder.

"Where are you going?" the bulky man asked.

"To check on my family," Kane replied.

"Really," Galivan questioned, "Mind if I join?"

"No, I don't." Kane replied, as he shrugged off the man's hand.

Two of the Warriors of Delega, came rushing back out from the woods, swords sheathed across their backs, with bald heads.

"Galivan, we didn't find any screaming girl." The two replied.

"Alrighty then, I suppose ye have some catching up to do. Go talk to Eliba, she's preparing to take back the Hall of Delega."

The two identical men looked at each other, as they resumed their rushed walk to camp.

Kane's eyes followed the two, as if they were copies of each other. Galivan just nodded, as to confirm they were identical twins. Yalin was no longer on the ground where Kane had left her. Kane then followed the tree he had climbed up, until he found the blonde haired women in the trees.

"Yalin, come on down." Kane said as Galivan looked at him funny.

"What! You expect me to climb down there where those grunts are?" Yalin replied.

Kane laughed, "Yes, because these people are forgiving people who are willing to supply us with food and drink."

"What are ye speaking?" Galivan questioned, as Kane held his figure for a minute.

"Do I have a choice?" Yalin yelled back.

"No, now come down." Kane said shaking his head.

It took only a minute for the girl to climb back down the tall tree. Galivan still looked at him confused. Kane looked back, refusing to humor the man, with a smile or laugh.

"So this is your - wife?" Galivan asked.

"My sister," Kane replied.

"I see," Galivan said, cutting himself off, "and what language were you speaking?"

"Hard to explain," Kane answered, as he walked back into their camp.

Yalin watched as Kane spoke with a very beautiful woman. Her eyes were a vibrant blue; her skin was a dark color, giving her greyish tint to her tanned skin. Her hair was black, long, slender and very soft. Her thin waste, and strong slender arms, gave her a perfect bodily shape. Yalin almost envied her, and her natural beauty. Yalin couldn't help but notice that the women, was enjoying every word out of Kane's mouth, laughing at things that weren't even funny. Kane tried to show some sign of humanity, as he gave forced smiles back. It was plain to see, that Yalin wasn't the only one who noticed these actions, as a bulky man with a Mohawk watched too.

"We leave in an hour then?" Kane replied, with determined eyes.

"Yes," Eliba replied, trying to hold back a smile.

Eliba couldn't help but feel worry and hope around the man. She was excited and tried not to show it. Her smiles were of her thoughts of eating a nice warm turkey over the fire at the Hall of Delega. Her laughter was a sign of her uneasy feeling around the man. Kane couldn't be trusted, at least not yet. She knew he was a killer, the look of guilt, and justification in his stone cold eyes, proved it. He had the eyes of a warrior, and his small fray with her men told her he was strong. She just hoped, Kane was telling the truth, and wasn't too much for them to handle. There was no doubt in her mind, that this man could kill them all, at least while they were leaderless in the wilderness.

Kane unsheathed his butcher blade. As he glanced at the cool blue metal, he found his reflection. The twins watched, peering over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the mysterious metal

"E'llo mate, I don't aszum you could tell us what that is, could ye?" One said stroking his beard.

"I could, but it would be hard to explain." Kane replied.

"Try us." the other one said, scratching his head.

"This is a rare metal, found on a different planet, not earth. It's alien to you; however its extreme light weight and extraordinary strength make it keen, for weapons like these. Because of these attributes my people call it Ragnarök steel. Reminds me of home," Kane answered.

"If the blade is so imporan and strong what's its name?" The twins asked together.

"Name" Kane chuckled.

"Ey, name." one twin said, "All fine weapons ave to ave a name."

"When I think of one I'll tell you." Kane replied.

"I ave a few suggestions." The bearded twin replied.

Kane shook off the last words, moving towards Yalin. Yalin slurped the last of her soup, wiping her mouth as Kane entered. The man didn't say anything, just circling the table in the room. Yalin had made her way shortly after Kane's and Eliba's conversation to the tent, where she was fed by the fair woman. Kane had nothing but his sleeping jump suit still, skin tight against his skin. Yalin braced as Kane turned to meet her eyes.

"We should be ready to take back the Hall of Delega, in a few minutes. I want you beside me, but to keep a safe distance from the fray, shout if you need something. If danger comes your way sprint, run, dash, whatever it takes, to get back here. If by chance I die in battle, continue to the castle off in the horizon, and take my blade. Understood?" Kane concluded.

"Yes," Yalin paused, "But Kane, you're making it back."

Kane gave her a smile, of approval before leaving the room. The first smile, Kane had really aimed towards the young lady. He was a cold man, in general. Yalin hoped, if anything could get through to the retired assassin and soldier's heart, it would be this world.

Kane sat, leaned over on top a barrel. With his hands held by his hands, thinking of his home world he had left. The three beautiful moons and the heavy gravity the felt like the norm almost made him miss it. Compared to earth, however his planet had a taxing pollution, the air, nowhere near as clean. As Kane sat on the barrel, Galivan, tossed a leather chest plate at him, hitting his leg. Kane instantly looked up, slightly bugged.

"Put that on, it will protect against their stone blades." Galivan said annoyed, "We're leaving."

Kane nodded, as he stood up to strap the armor on. He didn't ask questions, he didn't need to. It was obvious no specific weapon was needed, and that his enemies were at a technological disadvantage. Kane guessed that they were mostly outnumbered, if anything.

"Need help with that?" Eliba asked, as she passed by Kane.

Kane finished the last buckle, "No, thank you."

"Ey, I want ye by left hand when we venture. You seem to have a unique skill set we can use and I want to be the one to put you down if you go hostile on us again."

"Understood, just show me the way.

Noon had long sense pasted when the group had made it to their destination. They had followed a road up a mountain. A soft snow fell as the night cooled the environment. The air was crisp and cold compared to the forest bellow. Yalin folded her arms as she froze. Kane couldn't even deny that the area was significantly colder than the previous one. They had climbed quite a bit of altitude with the steep windy road. The forest was slowly changing to ever greens with their every step, and now that they made it, they could see the hall twenty yards off covered by grey men.

"What are they?" Kane asked, crouching low.

"These are brownies." Eliba responded.

"I thought brownies were supposed to fix things?" Kane questioned.

"Oh, they are, but that's just legend. These little devils steal and plunder, and fix the goods up for themselves. Right now it looks like they think our sacred hall, is a new nest, in need of repair."

"They only use stone weapons?" Kane inquired.

"The hardest stone in the world, no one knows how they get it. But they have to use magical steel to cut it out, or so the stories go. They're really just a bunch of bugs ready to be stomped. They aren't even that good at repairs!" Eliba whispered furiously.

"How did they force you to leave the hall in the first place?" Kane asked.

"Does it matter now? We need to take it back. We're out number twelve to one, and I can't take more than seven of these things on at once."

"Let me try." Kane said, "Take care of the girl.

Kane crouched low, dashing to tree to tree, until her reached the clearing where the hall was. He glanced around, finding the brownies with grey leathery like skin. The little creatures were barely up to Kane's knee. Their mouths had tusk jutting out of their lips. Their stone blades they waved around proudly. Kane dropped belly first into the five inches of snow, and started to crawl. He pulled his blade out from its sheath, as he stalked a brownie. He was breathing distance away when he slit its throat. Instantly, the head rolled through the snow, falling off the nearby cliff edge. The black blood could be seen in the snow, as Kane vanished once more into the snow.

Spontaneously the Warriors of Delega charged into battle with a ferrous war cry. Swords swing by, as the brownies met them. The stone swords seemed to shatter, along with their spears. Yalin watched the fray unfold from a distance as Kane had told her to do. She felt helpless as the band of warriors fought for their Hall. Yet none had taken any serious or sustainable wounds.

Kane swung his blade across the shoulders of another brownie as he stealthily entered into the Hall of Delega. Once inside Kane saw the horde of them. He kicked, punched, slashed and slammed, his way through the thirty-odd number of brownies. The little demons hacked and slashed, tarring at his legs, and leaping to reach his chest. Luckily for Kane, the sleeping jump suit had an elastic attribute protecting from the week stone slashes.

The brownie shaman or leader wore a boar's skull for a helmet, as he looked in shock, of the man. His spear by his side was gripped tightly by his hand, as Kane slowly walked towards him. Kane smiled, as he decapitated the trouble making creature. Kane glanced around the room, as be noticed the dead bodies hidden at the corner. A spear was centered at the middle of the makeshift throne of the brownie shaman. A human head was centered there, a face unknown to Kane. He examined the throne more closely, as he realized it was made out of human bones.

The doors swung open once more, as Kane quickly glanced back, holding his body sideways in battle position. The warriors of Delega entered their hall in horror. Glancing around the room, to fallen comrades, Eliba closed her eyes in despair. Kane sheathed bloody blade as he walked towards the group with his torn leather armor. The underdressed man looked for the blonde girl, catching her eyes as she cautiously entered the room.

Yalin glanced around the room, finding the horrors that laid there. Dead brownies were scattered on the blood stained floor, along with ruined bear carpets. Joining the grey creatures where men and women, numbering about six. Yalin looked up, trying to find a better sight. Suddenly she noticed small figures readying to leap, it was the brownies.

"Kane" Yalin shout, as she pointed up.

Kane caught the brownie midair as it leaped towards Eliba spear first. Kane gave it an inhuman and deadly kick, over Eliba's head, directly into the hobbit's throat. The Brownie struggled on the floor, choking on its crushed windpipe, as more leaped down upon the party. The brownies were no match for the flurry of blades that they met, as their bodies hit the floor one by one.

"I owe you my thanks," Eliba said, looking into Kane's yellow eyes.

"My pleasure," Kane replied, with a softened face.

"Would ye be willing to do one more favor for us Kane?"

"I think I will have to decline, Yalin is my top priority."

"I will order my men to protect her, if ye do this thing for me. It will take a day's travel. We must travel to the tomb of Delega, and ask who should be the successor of this group. Without this direction, we are lost." Eliba pleaded.

Kane glanced at the floor. He wanted to help them, he had a new start, and he could make right the wrongs of his past. On the other hand, Yalin was his priority. He couldn't leave the young women unprotected.

"You assure me her safety?" Kane replied.

"I assure you, I will kill any man with thoughts of ill intent." Eliba answered.

"As long as it is alright with Yalin, I will proceed."