Kess watched in terror as hundreds of strange-looking silverfish-type creatures were almost on top of them.
“Quickly, your capes!” The silver woman next to Kess shouted. Kess began to take off her cape when the woman stopped her. “Not your cape. Only our capes will work for this.”
Each silvery person in turn handed the woman their capes. Kess watched as she took the hoods of the black capes and quickly placed them individually on hooks jutting out from the top of a long metal staff the silvery woman was holding. Kess judged the stem of the staff to be a little taller than her.
She peered past the group to see the creatures were closing in. Kess shot a worried look at Kybil, who responded with a slight shrug.
The warriors pushed everyone as close together as possible next to the woman w
