Mist upon the Marsh: The Story of Nessa and Cassie Read Online Free PDF Page A

time already to run?”
    “No, not that. I and the others were thinking of something else.”
    “What do you mean? You know we must make the rounds.”
    “Oh, not tonight!” said Caramon, with an agitated sigh and a wild gesticulation. “There is more to life than work, you know.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” said Nessa. “I only haven’t discovered it yet.”
    “Oh, never mind you, then. Just get yourself dressed! And don’t forget your Turin.”
    He had run nearly the length of the hall, before Nessa looked out and asked him, “Why do I need my Turin?”
    “We’re going out!”
    Nessa only growled again.
     
    ~
     
    Though she was certain that the others were waiting, quite as usual, upon her, Nessa moved about slowly as she dressed, and put her hair into a sort of state that would render her presentable to strangers. Lastly she went to the small desk that stood parallel to her bed; removed the key from the chain she wore round her neck; and unlocked the topmost drawer at the left-hand side of the desk. Inside the drawer lay one thing, and one thing only: a shining silver amulet. This she removed from the drawer, and strung upon the chain which held her key.
    The amulet – otherwise known as a Turin – was about two-by-two inches tall and wide, with a very small, round ruby inlaid at its center. To one side of the ruby was depicted a woman with hand outstretched, as if in warning, towards the opposite side; where there stood a wolf with head bowed, as if in concession.
    Every member of the Endai possessed one of these talismans. Those which belonged to the females looked exactly as Nessa’s did; but those which belonged to the males, of course, depicted a man rather than a woman, at the left-hand side of the Turin – though the action of the hand, and the response of the wolf, was identical. These pieces of silver were worn, as Nessa wore hers, on chains about the neck. They were worn only while spending time in places where humans dwelt, to avoid the accident of involuntary change – which was known to happen on occasion.
    These talismans were identical to those which were attached to the chokers of the servants at Mindren. Even without them, the Ziruk could not change their shapes; but were, rather, trapped always in the forms of hulking and horrible beasts. Therefore, the Turins had no use in that sense. They could, however, help in diminishing the strength of the Ziruk, while they were worn; and this was their primary purpose, to control the rebelling of Morachi’s slaves. None would have had the ability to do so, while they wore the talismans.
    When prepared finally to her own satisfaction, Nessa departed from her quarters, and went down to the wild moonlit garden at the front of the house, where the others were standing about.
    “I honestly don’t know why we never leave without you,” said Dechtire. “We would save so much time that way!”
    “But then you would not have anywhere near so much fun, when you did get to where you were going,” said Nessa.
    “That is quite a matter of opinion.”
    “Oh, never mind it!” exclaimed Caramon. “Let’s go, shall we?”
    The four of them (for Orin was present, as well) went to the barn, where they piled into the old truck. Caramon took the place behind the wheel, and Orin the passenger seat, so that Nessa and Dechtire were squeezed rather uncomfortably in between.
    “Well, damn it all!” said Dechtire. “If this isn’t just a terrible start to the evening!”
    “Oh, quiet down, you,” said Caramon. “We shall be there in no time.”
    “We certainly won’t, if you don’t start driving, you nit-wit! And, confound it – who elected you to drive, anyway?”
    “In about ten seconds’ time, Dechtire, we shall have a vote to toss you out of the truck,” said Nessa. “Hush up!”
    Dechtire leant back against the seat, and crossed her arms sulkily over her chest, so that her elbows nudged painfully into the sides of both Nessa and