Chapter Seven
Jas emerged into a domed chamber. At first glance, the place seemed to be full of human-sized maggots. The sentient species of the mythrin-bearing planet were long and plump, and they seemed to be segmented, according to what was visible of their bodies. They wore patterned and plain one-piece skin-like coverings in a variety of styles and colors.
At one end of the creatures was a star-shaped opening that they flexibly moved, and surrounding the opening was a circle of black dots. The dots seemed to be eyes, because they turned toward Jas, Trimborn, and the others when they appeared. Folds of skin swept over the dots, covering and uncovering them, apparently randomly.
The creatures moved by edging forward on their lower halves, born along on waves of movement that originat
