Several small, sharp clicks as weapons selector switches moved from Safe to fire positions. The men began to re-orient, to face outward into the surrounding crowd of alien creatures.

Reiser leaned in to rub elbows with Garrett. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Don't know, but it's looking dicey."

"These have braved the Nexus of Worlds to enter our land on a quest of discovery," Sam projected into the gathering. "They aided my people when the dragons attacked."

The dragons perched on the flying buttresses above took no notice of their mentioning. One drew in the clawed joint of its bat wing to scratch its slavering snout.

"But, they also came armed with weapons of war, seeking vengeance for acts against their own. They are not peace...

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