Miracle of all miracles, I made it for the weekly update, AND I have more chapters in reserve! ... the bad part is, they do not actually all connect just yet. They will, I just need to finish the connecting chapter. Updates should be pretty smooth sailing from here on out... but don't quote me on that. lol

Chapter Twenty

"VEXX!"

Vexx woke with a start. Even as he was coming into the waking world, Gly's voice continued, horror-struck, "The sun just set! Something's wrong! Come on, hurry!"

The warrior had his boots on and was down the ladder in a flash. Giles was already suiting himself up in his armor. Gly moved quickly to do the same for Vexx, his hurried speech never stopping for a moment. "We need to get out there, fast. I'm sure there's all kinds of night things lurking around. Quick, put up your arms." The newly forged armor was slapped onto Vexx's chest and Gly quickly set about tightening the leather straps that he had just attached to the sides. "It's a good thing I couldn't sleep or we'd all be off guard now. Who knows what would happen then." He suddenly cussed very loudly, which made Vexx jump.

As quickly as the armor had gone on, Gly was yanking it back off of the warrior again. Vexx stumbled a step from the ferocity with which the act was done. "This is no good! This is rubbish!" Gly cast the breastplate onto the floor as he shot across the room, "The hinging points are all wrong! I told you a rushed job would never work!"

"Calm down," Giles snapped back at his son. "What are you panicking for? That's a fine piece of armor." The blacksmith took up his battle axe.

"I've seen him fight," Gly protested. There was a clanking of metal and Gly ran back to Vexx's side, a bundle of chainmail in his arms. "What was I thinking? You move around way too much for that breastplate. It's just going to inhibit your movement and get you killed. Here. You're a bit broader in the shoulders than me, but this should fit." With the chainmail in place, Gly thrust a helmet into Vexx's hands and set about putting the leg guards on him. "Be careful, both of you. I'll follow once I get my arrows."

After the whirlwind of being suited up was over, Vexx bolted out of the forge along side Giles. The chainmail shirt was heavy, but the weight of it didn't bother the warrior. He had to admit that it was easier to move in than he figured the breastplate would have been. The shield to protect his injured hand was greatly appreciated above all else. It was forged as more of an arm guard with an extension to dome over and cover the whole War Talon. Giles had fitted this guard with a couple of sharp spikes so that Vexx could still slash and punch in the manner he was used to in his style of battle. There were still marks from the hammer strikes all along the metal. As Gly had said, a rushed job and obviously one at that, but Vexx was satisfied with it.

Guards were already gathering in the streets, holding lanterns overhead. Everyone was baffled as to why the sun had been permitted to set. There had been no advanced notification about it. No one was home at Karik's house. In fact, no one seemed to know where Karik and Kiri were at all. Nevertheless, a plan remained, and while they had been caught off-guard, the soldiers knew what their instructions were. The village boarders were quickly protected. The threat was sure to come from the forest and they were ready for it.

Vexx had other ideas. With Giles fast at his heels, the village guardian led the way down darkened roads to the sundial. Someone had turned it without proper orders, this he was absolutely sure of. When he reached the hilltop and was met with no guards, Vexx knew he was right. He burst through the huge double doors, rolling across the floor and coming back to a crouch position. The bodies of the guards lay strewn across the room, armor dented and bloodied, barely illuminated by the flickering light of a single remaining wall torch. Standing on the sundial was a figure in white, her dark hair falling across her back. Red droplets dappled her skirt. Her head turned to look back over her shoulder, tears streaking her creamy cheeks.

"Kiri," Giles gasped.

Vexx dropped his guard and quickly moved to her. She turned to face him fully and moved a step closer, arms reaching out to him. "Vexx," she said, her voice hardly more than a hoarse whisper. He was nearly close enough to touch her when she spoke again, a single, desperate plea. "Run."

It was too late. Vexx pulled backward a step as the word sank in and Kiri's expression melted away into a fiery glare. Her hands shot out to him, grasping his throat tightly. Vexx had to stop himself from automatically grabbing for her wrists. Teeth gritted, he stared wide-eyed at the sudden change in Kiri. She grinned manically at him in return.

Giles swept in, doing what Vexx could not and prying her fingers away. "What's wrong with you, girl? Stop it!" The murderous rage turned on Giles then. Kiri shoved the large man backward with a strength that was shocking for her stature. In a fluid sweeping motion, Kiri's legs darted up through the air, one after the other. She was airborne, a boot-clad foot meeting with the side of the blacksmith's head. The motion continued, skirts swirling about her as she came back to the ground. Her gaze lifted sharply to Vexx, smirking. Giles groaned in pain from his position on the floor.

Vexx kept his attention on Kiri. He and his grandfather had established a sort of language for him that only the two of them knew. Vexx still reverted to it at times, particularly when he was desperate or stressed. His grunts and gestures of question quickly gave way to deeper confusion and even a touch of fear.

Kiri was not interested explaining herself. She closed the space between her and the warrior quickly, hands reaching for his neck again. Vexx slid back just as quickly, carefully defusing her attacks by pushing her hands away with his arms. His own hands stayed in loose fists, talons tucked into each other. Clearly Kiri was out for blood, but he wasn't so sure that he was in return just yet.

Giles came back to his feet, shaking his head sharply to clear his vision. "What do you think you're doing, girl?" he snapped at Kiri again, watching the two dart about the room. "Have you lost your mind?"

Vexx's eyes narrowed. Giles was right, this was nothing like Kiri, he was sure of that. This had to be Shadow Wraith trickery. He had been the victim of such things before. No Wraith shape-shifting trick would get him this time. His loose fists lashed open and he leapt at her with an enraged scream.