-Yorda-
By Julie Danskin
Chapter 10 - Shadows -
Author's note : Please remember to review!!!!!!!! I need more . . . more blood! I mean reviews! Yeah. . . reviews . . . hee hee. Just kidding guys, you're all too smelly to drink from! I love ya. Well the ones that review, the ones that don't have NO EXCUSE! It only takes 30 damn seconds man! Ok. . . keep calm Julie . . . shhhhhhh . . there, there doo dooo. Sorry it's been so long since I have updated, but here are three chapters, I've been working on them and went on holiday after that so I couldn't put it up. Sorry guys. These three chapters really get into the story line. Got a long way to go yet! Mwahhahaha. Read to the end. It's worth it. I've made a synopsis. It rocks. Lol. Just kidding guys, but I'd really appreciate opinions on my work. Thanks a lot. Julie xxx
-4 Years Later-
Yawning, Ico awoke due to Kiassa and Raath's sobs coming from the kitchen. Ico reached for the ceiling and stretched off, peering at his twelve-year- old sister Siania. It was her birthday today. Her twelfth birthday. No wonder her parents were crying, today was the day Ico was taking her to the other side of the island to where the castle was. The castle with the prince that had killed his only friend long ago.
Ico sat for a while watching Siania sleeping, until her mother let out a wretched sob, and disturbed her. Siania sat up sleepily and smiled at Ico mid-yawn.
"Hello Ico," she said dozily, then remembered, "Oh! This is the day!"
Ico nodded his head slowly, and stood up, now much taller than before. He had passed his seventeenth birthday two months before, and was now considered a man. He had worked as a teacher in the horned children's school up till now. He had a new duty to fulfill, to try and free Siania of her uncertain fate. Ico wasn't sure what would happen now the Queen was dead, but the Spirits were alive, he had seen them with his own two eyes.
He had had other encounters with the Spirits, mostly when he went out on his horse Riia to find food or to rescue other horned arrivals. He had also seen them lurking outside the city gates, waiting for someone to come out.
The villagers worked as a community, and since Ico had been there, only one horned child, Fern, had been snatched. She had never been seen since, and although she was an orphan and lived alone, the people of Furwha Sanctuary mourned her still.
Ico sat down heavily beside Siania on her mattress, the soft cushion sinking down where he sat. He put an arm around her shoulder. It was long and masculine, strong due to lifting many crates and transporting them to people, and from riding so hard and fast away from the Spirits.
"Don't worry, Sai, I'm sure everything will be just fine," Ico told her warmly. She looked up and scowled at him.
"Don't think I'm stupid," she warned, "I've heard you telling Mama and Papa about what they did to you - or what they tried to do,"
Ico looked away. He didn't want to remember. But he had to say something.
"That was years ago, Sai. What are they going to do, anyway? The castle that had the crypts sank into the sea a long time ago," he said. That was when he was with her. Yorda.
"I also know about the girl," Siania told him. Ico gave her a strange look that made her laugh.
"Exactly how many conversations have you been listening to?" he teased. He expected her to giggle, but she only exhaled with a small smile on her face. She lifted up her head and looked Ico in the eye. There was something in her gaze that made his face flush.
"Tell me about her," Siania said, "Please."
Ico opened his mouth to begin, but a huge sob from Kiassa told Ico that he and Siania should leave before she became violent. Siania sighed, stood up and took Ico's hand, pulling him to his feet and through to the kitchen.
Siania's mother burst into wretched tears when she saw her daughter standing in her nightdress looking so small and innocent. Her father tried hard to smile and tell her how lovely she looked.
"I've cooked you both a big breakfast. Pheasant, your favourite, Sai. You and Ico need to build up your strength if you're going to leave," Raath said cheerfully, a thousand tears in his eyes. He concealed them well. His daughter seemed comfortable, "When are you planning on setting off, my boy?"
"In about an hour," Ico told him quietly, "It can't be much later, the Spirits aren't too many before noon, but much afterwards and we're still near the village and it'll increase the risk of being caught. I'll have to eat breakfast quickly because I have to saddle up and feed Riia. She can't go very fast or very far on an empty stomach."
Raath nodded. He motioned for Ico and Siania to eat their breakfasts. Kiassa and her husband sat down at the table and watched their daughter eating silently. Ico had lived in their house for four years and had always felt welcome and loved, but now he felt like a stranger. He knew Raath and Kiassa wanted Ico to take Siania to see the prince because he had once had horns and understood.
The stumps he had been left with had since disappeared and was left only with two scars on his head. His messy hair covered these, and he looked like an ordinary young man. The Spirits no longer wanted him as a horned boy, but as an enemy to their mistress whom Ico had killed. For Yorda.
He wondered what Yorda would look like if she was still alive. Not much older, only four years had passed since he had last seen her. He was seventeen, and she would be reaching her twentieth birthday the following winter, she had told him while they were camping on the beach that her birthday was in the days of cold. Those last days with Yorda had meant so much to him, he had found her and had rescued her, he had nursed her back to health and held her when she cried.
In the four years he had scarcely thought of her. Now his mind was full of her. He could remember her smell, her vulnerability, her amazing insight that seemed to surpass what he could see. If he saw a tree, she saw a magnificent structure full of life and memories. She could interpret it, and seemed to speak to it as she smiled at it with her violet eyes. He could remember the certain glow she had around her-
"Ico!" Raath's voice interrupted suddenly, jerking Ico out of his daydream, "Ico, my boy. Don't you think you had better see to Riia? Are you sure you want to ride today? Why not tomorrow-"
Ico shook his head gently.
"If we go we will reach the village of Ara P'Way by tomorrow's nightfall. We have to leave as early as possible, or the prince will come looking for Siania, no doubt about it. I'll go and see to Riia now. Make sure Siania is ready in half an hour. We can't leave any later than then," Ico told him, and saw Raath's face fall. He dropped his voice, "I'll make sure she comes home, I promise."
Raath smiled, and held out his hand for Ico to shake it. He accepted his guardian's hand and nodded.
"You're a good boy," Kiassa said with a cracked voice, "And I'm proud to call you my s-son," Ico smiled grimly at her, winked at Siania, who looked bewildered, and went to prepare his horse.
Half an hour later, Ico was sat on Riia, his wild hair blowing in the morning wind. He looked down at Raath, Kiassa and Siania sadly, watching them tearing apart from each other reluctantly. He had never known that affection, his family had simply watched him leave without a word or tear. Only his sister had shown affection, and she didn't understand. He wondered how she was.
Siania's parents were smothering their daughter with hugs, kisses and loving words that would stick in her mind happily like glue. They said the things she wanted to hear, like "We'll see each other soon, and we'll all have a party," and "Don't worry, your brother will look after you."
Brother. The word cut like a knife into Ico's flesh as he realised the pressure being put on him. He was not only to transport a girl to a castle, plead for her life to the man who had so unfairly taken his only friend's, and take her home, he was to take his sister. He shuddered, and coughed slightly.
Siania's mother and father uttered a last few loving words and drew back, allowing Ico to reach down from his strong mare and scoop her up with sturdy arms. He plopped her on the back of his horse and Riia whinnied, signaling she was ready. They had to leave immediately, or else they may be caught. They would have to ride fast until nightfall, when the Spirits were unable to come out and they could rest without worry. Thank God it was only a two-day journey. Thank God it was a small island.
"Good-bye, my darling!" Kiassa sobbed to her daughter, "Look after her, Ico! Bring her home!"
"I will," Ico promised, not quite sure what he was saying, "I promise."
"Be good for your brother, Sai," her father said firmly but lovingly, "Do as he tells you."
"Yes, Papa. Good-bye, Mama. I love you both!" Siania cried, and linked her arms around Ico's waist. He looked down and saw her knuckles white with fear and her hands shaking.
Ico smiled and waved, a couple of the villagers had come outside to watch. Siania's best friend, Tannie, who had a horned brother, waved rapidly. Siania found it hard to wave back without falling off the horse so called goodbye to her instead, her voice cracked with tears..
The gates opened presently, and Ico and Siania rode out, Riia going at a trot first. Ico didn't want to wear her out too quickly.
"Shout if you see a Spirit," he said to her.
"Okay." She replied, looking around.
"It'll be okay, you know. Once the prince sees what a nice girl you are, he'll-"
"I'm not stupid, Ico. I know he's the one who killed your friend."
Ico hid a scowl. Never before had another human put it so harshly before him other than himself. The Spirits didn't count. They were not humans, but demons.
After about an hour and a half of steady trotting, Siania called out in a panicky voice suddenly, catching Ico by surprise, and he reared Riia.
"Ico! Run! Spirits to the east!" she cried, and Ico spun round, watching the Spirits closing in on them, coming from the direction the sun had risen from a few hours before. Ico could hear them hissing, and recalled the pleasant thwacking sound it made when he hit Yorda down from one of their clutches. But this was not Yorda. It was Siania, and himself they wanted.
"Hya!" he called to his horse, which was aware of the Spirits too, and she galloped into action, sprinting along the terrain away from the Spirits. They were fast, but so was Riia. Ico and Siania held on for dear life as the horse pummeled forwards into a forest, where it would be harder to ride but even harder for a demon to catch them.
"Head down!" Ico roared to Siania as a low branch swung at them. Ico caught full impact of the branch but forcibly shook it off, urging Riia to dodge the tree trunks and any overgrown roots that could influence a fatal mistake. Ico was scratched once in the arm by a large splintered branch, cutting deep into it, and once Riia tripped and stumbled. Ico forced her forwards and she managed to pick herself up in time before the Spirits could reach Siania.
Ico looked back at the terrified girl behind him as they rode clear of the forest. She looked at him with pure fear in her eyes, begging him to turn back and go home and he smiled grimly at her before turning back to Riia and riding ever forwards. This was going to be harder than he thought.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico looked up to the sky. Dusk. Thank God.
He turned round to face Siania, Riia still galloping steadily. Many a time had she ridden hard for Ico, but never for so long and so far. She was tiring.
"Alright?" he asked Siania, who had her head resting against his back contently. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Are we home yet?" she mumbled. She looked so small; it was hard to believe she was twelve.
"No, Sai. I'm looking for a place to stop. But the Spirits have gone - don't worry. They won't be back till tomorrow noon, and we'll be well on our way by then." He replied gently, slowing Riia down to a walk, which also calmed Siania. To be honest, it calmed him too.
"There's a cave over there," Siania pointed to the very cave Ico and Yorda had camped in on their last night together. There was no way Ico could go there, he might find her body-
"Ico?" Siania asked, looking at him strangely. He had gone very pale and his eyes had widened, which seemed to lengthen his face, "Well?"
"Uh . . . No, I've been in that cave before, it's not suitable. Too many bats and rats."
"I don't mind."
I do, thought Ico.
"No, we'll find somewhere else. It's too exposed, anyway. Last time I went there with your father, we nearly got caught by the Spirits!"
That'll work.
"Oh, okay then. Hang on, there's something further forwards. Go on, have a look."
Ico looked to where her hand was pointing, further up the river he had tried to follow four years before. He had followed it right, which had taken him to Furwha Sanctuary. Where she was pointing was to the left, however.
Was this the way Yorda came? Before she was captured?
Forcing the exhausted Riia to follow the river upstream, Ico reached where Siania had been pointing in under an hour. The moon was up and random stars were beginning to fill the sky. Ico stretched his neck up to look at them. One looked distinctly like Yorda for some reason, the single ball of gas a billion miles away had the face he couldn't picture in his mind.
"Yorda-" he whispered, but was torn from his daydream when he felt Siania hop down from the horse and yelp as she had her foot caught in a stirrup. Ico laughed at her, jumped down and freed her foot.
"You should wait for me," he told her between his humour.
"I should," replied Siania cheekily, "But then I don't, do I dear brother?"
"I'm not your real brother, you know that."
"So? I'm not your real sister."
"That's my point. You're technically lying if you call me your brother when I'm not."
"Is this a game?"
"No."
"Okay. Because if it is, it's a funny one, Ico. Now lets check out this cave, I'm freezing, and poor Riia needs a rest. So do you, with all that controlling her. We nearly got caught at one point!"
"Don't remind me. Anyway we're here now. I'll bring Riia in, here take this bag and set up a fire in there, will you?"
Ico handed Siania the large supplies bag and she dragged it along the floor of the field they were in, Ico taking Riia's rein in hand and urging her forwards into the cave.
It had an igloo like structure. It had a narrow mouth, opening out into a large dome. There were little or no bats nests he could see, but then it was dark. There was no smell of ammonia from their droppings. He would scare them out when the fire was lit anyway.
After a few minutes of fumbling in the dark, Siania's practice paid off, and the fire was lit and burning. A couple of bats and mice ran out of the cave in fear. Now they were alone.
Did Yorda try and hide here?
Siania must have seen the funny look in his eyes through the fire because she looked up from her roast fish she had cooked and watched him intently.
"Ico?" she asked, after a few minutes of silence, "What are you thinking about?"
"Her," he replied absently, not noticing he was supposed to be closed and secretive about the subject.
"Who? The girl from four years ago? You've never told me about her, though I've asked you so many times. Why not tell me now, when we are going to meet the man that killed her? Why not now, when you have risked your life to bring me here?" she asked him, finding his eyes with hers.
"I've never told anyone. I told your Mama and Papa of her, but never about her. With her, there was never any boredom. There was always magic."
"Tell me about her. Please."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your sister."
Ico looked away.
"I am, Ico," she pushed, "Whether there's blood or water or fire or whatever. You have been my brother since I was eight years old and there will never be anything less that you are to me than that. You are my family and I love you like a brother. Understand that, Ico."
"You're so clever," he murmered, "So clever for anything I have to say. You'll think it's silly, Sai."
"Don't be stupid. I won't. Please tell me, Ico."
Ico sighed and gave up. He told her. He told her everything. Her name, her age, her face, her movements, how her mother had locked her in a cage, how he had rescued her. He told her of their adventures, their heartache, their victories, and failures. Most of which, was when they had opened the gates, and they had been so close to escape, so close. He told her of how he had landed on a cage, how he couldn't find her. He told her of how he killed all the Spirits and went to find the Queen and killed her too with the Sword.
Once he had finished, Siania stared at him, wordless.
"How sad," she whispered croakily.
Ico smiled.
"That was the first thing she ever said that I could physically understand. How sad. Hmm."
And then he told her what happened once he had found her on the beach.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn struck Siania like a blow to the head. They had slept in!
Hurriedly, she shook Ico awake and he quickly fed and saddled Riia, grabbing the supplies and glugging back a mouthful of water, handing the rest to Siania. They literally leapt on the mare's back and galloped off into the morning as fast as they could.
They only just escaped the Spirits twice.
* * * * * * * * * * *
After another exhausting day of endless cat and mouse chasing, Ico managed to run away from the Spirits until another sunset, and reliefs soared as the village of Ara P'Way emerged from the endless horizon. Siania cheered, and Ico urged Riia forwards, who seemed just as eager to be safe again.
"Look, there's the castle, Ico," Siania whispered to him, her horn tips gently nudging him. Ico looked up and saw the residence of the man who had wanted Yorda dead. Perhaps killed her, unless the Spirits had gotten her first. He rode ever onwards. He would avenge her soul.
* * * * * * * * * * *
That night, the beautiful Princess of Light and Shadow dreamt of her boy.
Chapter 10 - Shadows -
Author's note : Please remember to review!!!!!!!! I need more . . . more blood! I mean reviews! Yeah. . . reviews . . . hee hee. Just kidding guys, you're all too smelly to drink from! I love ya. Well the ones that review, the ones that don't have NO EXCUSE! It only takes 30 damn seconds man! Ok. . . keep calm Julie . . . shhhhhhh . . there, there doo dooo. Sorry it's been so long since I have updated, but here are three chapters, I've been working on them and went on holiday after that so I couldn't put it up. Sorry guys. These three chapters really get into the story line. Got a long way to go yet! Mwahhahaha. Read to the end. It's worth it. I've made a synopsis. It rocks. Lol. Just kidding guys, but I'd really appreciate opinions on my work. Thanks a lot. Julie xxx
-4 Years Later-
Yawning, Ico awoke due to Kiassa and Raath's sobs coming from the kitchen. Ico reached for the ceiling and stretched off, peering at his twelve-year- old sister Siania. It was her birthday today. Her twelfth birthday. No wonder her parents were crying, today was the day Ico was taking her to the other side of the island to where the castle was. The castle with the prince that had killed his only friend long ago.
Ico sat for a while watching Siania sleeping, until her mother let out a wretched sob, and disturbed her. Siania sat up sleepily and smiled at Ico mid-yawn.
"Hello Ico," she said dozily, then remembered, "Oh! This is the day!"
Ico nodded his head slowly, and stood up, now much taller than before. He had passed his seventeenth birthday two months before, and was now considered a man. He had worked as a teacher in the horned children's school up till now. He had a new duty to fulfill, to try and free Siania of her uncertain fate. Ico wasn't sure what would happen now the Queen was dead, but the Spirits were alive, he had seen them with his own two eyes.
He had had other encounters with the Spirits, mostly when he went out on his horse Riia to find food or to rescue other horned arrivals. He had also seen them lurking outside the city gates, waiting for someone to come out.
The villagers worked as a community, and since Ico had been there, only one horned child, Fern, had been snatched. She had never been seen since, and although she was an orphan and lived alone, the people of Furwha Sanctuary mourned her still.
Ico sat down heavily beside Siania on her mattress, the soft cushion sinking down where he sat. He put an arm around her shoulder. It was long and masculine, strong due to lifting many crates and transporting them to people, and from riding so hard and fast away from the Spirits.
"Don't worry, Sai, I'm sure everything will be just fine," Ico told her warmly. She looked up and scowled at him.
"Don't think I'm stupid," she warned, "I've heard you telling Mama and Papa about what they did to you - or what they tried to do,"
Ico looked away. He didn't want to remember. But he had to say something.
"That was years ago, Sai. What are they going to do, anyway? The castle that had the crypts sank into the sea a long time ago," he said. That was when he was with her. Yorda.
"I also know about the girl," Siania told him. Ico gave her a strange look that made her laugh.
"Exactly how many conversations have you been listening to?" he teased. He expected her to giggle, but she only exhaled with a small smile on her face. She lifted up her head and looked Ico in the eye. There was something in her gaze that made his face flush.
"Tell me about her," Siania said, "Please."
Ico opened his mouth to begin, but a huge sob from Kiassa told Ico that he and Siania should leave before she became violent. Siania sighed, stood up and took Ico's hand, pulling him to his feet and through to the kitchen.
Siania's mother burst into wretched tears when she saw her daughter standing in her nightdress looking so small and innocent. Her father tried hard to smile and tell her how lovely she looked.
"I've cooked you both a big breakfast. Pheasant, your favourite, Sai. You and Ico need to build up your strength if you're going to leave," Raath said cheerfully, a thousand tears in his eyes. He concealed them well. His daughter seemed comfortable, "When are you planning on setting off, my boy?"
"In about an hour," Ico told him quietly, "It can't be much later, the Spirits aren't too many before noon, but much afterwards and we're still near the village and it'll increase the risk of being caught. I'll have to eat breakfast quickly because I have to saddle up and feed Riia. She can't go very fast or very far on an empty stomach."
Raath nodded. He motioned for Ico and Siania to eat their breakfasts. Kiassa and her husband sat down at the table and watched their daughter eating silently. Ico had lived in their house for four years and had always felt welcome and loved, but now he felt like a stranger. He knew Raath and Kiassa wanted Ico to take Siania to see the prince because he had once had horns and understood.
The stumps he had been left with had since disappeared and was left only with two scars on his head. His messy hair covered these, and he looked like an ordinary young man. The Spirits no longer wanted him as a horned boy, but as an enemy to their mistress whom Ico had killed. For Yorda.
He wondered what Yorda would look like if she was still alive. Not much older, only four years had passed since he had last seen her. He was seventeen, and she would be reaching her twentieth birthday the following winter, she had told him while they were camping on the beach that her birthday was in the days of cold. Those last days with Yorda had meant so much to him, he had found her and had rescued her, he had nursed her back to health and held her when she cried.
In the four years he had scarcely thought of her. Now his mind was full of her. He could remember her smell, her vulnerability, her amazing insight that seemed to surpass what he could see. If he saw a tree, she saw a magnificent structure full of life and memories. She could interpret it, and seemed to speak to it as she smiled at it with her violet eyes. He could remember the certain glow she had around her-
"Ico!" Raath's voice interrupted suddenly, jerking Ico out of his daydream, "Ico, my boy. Don't you think you had better see to Riia? Are you sure you want to ride today? Why not tomorrow-"
Ico shook his head gently.
"If we go we will reach the village of Ara P'Way by tomorrow's nightfall. We have to leave as early as possible, or the prince will come looking for Siania, no doubt about it. I'll go and see to Riia now. Make sure Siania is ready in half an hour. We can't leave any later than then," Ico told him, and saw Raath's face fall. He dropped his voice, "I'll make sure she comes home, I promise."
Raath smiled, and held out his hand for Ico to shake it. He accepted his guardian's hand and nodded.
"You're a good boy," Kiassa said with a cracked voice, "And I'm proud to call you my s-son," Ico smiled grimly at her, winked at Siania, who looked bewildered, and went to prepare his horse.
Half an hour later, Ico was sat on Riia, his wild hair blowing in the morning wind. He looked down at Raath, Kiassa and Siania sadly, watching them tearing apart from each other reluctantly. He had never known that affection, his family had simply watched him leave without a word or tear. Only his sister had shown affection, and she didn't understand. He wondered how she was.
Siania's parents were smothering their daughter with hugs, kisses and loving words that would stick in her mind happily like glue. They said the things she wanted to hear, like "We'll see each other soon, and we'll all have a party," and "Don't worry, your brother will look after you."
Brother. The word cut like a knife into Ico's flesh as he realised the pressure being put on him. He was not only to transport a girl to a castle, plead for her life to the man who had so unfairly taken his only friend's, and take her home, he was to take his sister. He shuddered, and coughed slightly.
Siania's mother and father uttered a last few loving words and drew back, allowing Ico to reach down from his strong mare and scoop her up with sturdy arms. He plopped her on the back of his horse and Riia whinnied, signaling she was ready. They had to leave immediately, or else they may be caught. They would have to ride fast until nightfall, when the Spirits were unable to come out and they could rest without worry. Thank God it was only a two-day journey. Thank God it was a small island.
"Good-bye, my darling!" Kiassa sobbed to her daughter, "Look after her, Ico! Bring her home!"
"I will," Ico promised, not quite sure what he was saying, "I promise."
"Be good for your brother, Sai," her father said firmly but lovingly, "Do as he tells you."
"Yes, Papa. Good-bye, Mama. I love you both!" Siania cried, and linked her arms around Ico's waist. He looked down and saw her knuckles white with fear and her hands shaking.
Ico smiled and waved, a couple of the villagers had come outside to watch. Siania's best friend, Tannie, who had a horned brother, waved rapidly. Siania found it hard to wave back without falling off the horse so called goodbye to her instead, her voice cracked with tears..
The gates opened presently, and Ico and Siania rode out, Riia going at a trot first. Ico didn't want to wear her out too quickly.
"Shout if you see a Spirit," he said to her.
"Okay." She replied, looking around.
"It'll be okay, you know. Once the prince sees what a nice girl you are, he'll-"
"I'm not stupid, Ico. I know he's the one who killed your friend."
Ico hid a scowl. Never before had another human put it so harshly before him other than himself. The Spirits didn't count. They were not humans, but demons.
After about an hour and a half of steady trotting, Siania called out in a panicky voice suddenly, catching Ico by surprise, and he reared Riia.
"Ico! Run! Spirits to the east!" she cried, and Ico spun round, watching the Spirits closing in on them, coming from the direction the sun had risen from a few hours before. Ico could hear them hissing, and recalled the pleasant thwacking sound it made when he hit Yorda down from one of their clutches. But this was not Yorda. It was Siania, and himself they wanted.
"Hya!" he called to his horse, which was aware of the Spirits too, and she galloped into action, sprinting along the terrain away from the Spirits. They were fast, but so was Riia. Ico and Siania held on for dear life as the horse pummeled forwards into a forest, where it would be harder to ride but even harder for a demon to catch them.
"Head down!" Ico roared to Siania as a low branch swung at them. Ico caught full impact of the branch but forcibly shook it off, urging Riia to dodge the tree trunks and any overgrown roots that could influence a fatal mistake. Ico was scratched once in the arm by a large splintered branch, cutting deep into it, and once Riia tripped and stumbled. Ico forced her forwards and she managed to pick herself up in time before the Spirits could reach Siania.
Ico looked back at the terrified girl behind him as they rode clear of the forest. She looked at him with pure fear in her eyes, begging him to turn back and go home and he smiled grimly at her before turning back to Riia and riding ever forwards. This was going to be harder than he thought.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico looked up to the sky. Dusk. Thank God.
He turned round to face Siania, Riia still galloping steadily. Many a time had she ridden hard for Ico, but never for so long and so far. She was tiring.
"Alright?" he asked Siania, who had her head resting against his back contently. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Are we home yet?" she mumbled. She looked so small; it was hard to believe she was twelve.
"No, Sai. I'm looking for a place to stop. But the Spirits have gone - don't worry. They won't be back till tomorrow noon, and we'll be well on our way by then." He replied gently, slowing Riia down to a walk, which also calmed Siania. To be honest, it calmed him too.
"There's a cave over there," Siania pointed to the very cave Ico and Yorda had camped in on their last night together. There was no way Ico could go there, he might find her body-
"Ico?" Siania asked, looking at him strangely. He had gone very pale and his eyes had widened, which seemed to lengthen his face, "Well?"
"Uh . . . No, I've been in that cave before, it's not suitable. Too many bats and rats."
"I don't mind."
I do, thought Ico.
"No, we'll find somewhere else. It's too exposed, anyway. Last time I went there with your father, we nearly got caught by the Spirits!"
That'll work.
"Oh, okay then. Hang on, there's something further forwards. Go on, have a look."
Ico looked to where her hand was pointing, further up the river he had tried to follow four years before. He had followed it right, which had taken him to Furwha Sanctuary. Where she was pointing was to the left, however.
Was this the way Yorda came? Before she was captured?
Forcing the exhausted Riia to follow the river upstream, Ico reached where Siania had been pointing in under an hour. The moon was up and random stars were beginning to fill the sky. Ico stretched his neck up to look at them. One looked distinctly like Yorda for some reason, the single ball of gas a billion miles away had the face he couldn't picture in his mind.
"Yorda-" he whispered, but was torn from his daydream when he felt Siania hop down from the horse and yelp as she had her foot caught in a stirrup. Ico laughed at her, jumped down and freed her foot.
"You should wait for me," he told her between his humour.
"I should," replied Siania cheekily, "But then I don't, do I dear brother?"
"I'm not your real brother, you know that."
"So? I'm not your real sister."
"That's my point. You're technically lying if you call me your brother when I'm not."
"Is this a game?"
"No."
"Okay. Because if it is, it's a funny one, Ico. Now lets check out this cave, I'm freezing, and poor Riia needs a rest. So do you, with all that controlling her. We nearly got caught at one point!"
"Don't remind me. Anyway we're here now. I'll bring Riia in, here take this bag and set up a fire in there, will you?"
Ico handed Siania the large supplies bag and she dragged it along the floor of the field they were in, Ico taking Riia's rein in hand and urging her forwards into the cave.
It had an igloo like structure. It had a narrow mouth, opening out into a large dome. There were little or no bats nests he could see, but then it was dark. There was no smell of ammonia from their droppings. He would scare them out when the fire was lit anyway.
After a few minutes of fumbling in the dark, Siania's practice paid off, and the fire was lit and burning. A couple of bats and mice ran out of the cave in fear. Now they were alone.
Did Yorda try and hide here?
Siania must have seen the funny look in his eyes through the fire because she looked up from her roast fish she had cooked and watched him intently.
"Ico?" she asked, after a few minutes of silence, "What are you thinking about?"
"Her," he replied absently, not noticing he was supposed to be closed and secretive about the subject.
"Who? The girl from four years ago? You've never told me about her, though I've asked you so many times. Why not tell me now, when we are going to meet the man that killed her? Why not now, when you have risked your life to bring me here?" she asked him, finding his eyes with hers.
"I've never told anyone. I told your Mama and Papa of her, but never about her. With her, there was never any boredom. There was always magic."
"Tell me about her. Please."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your sister."
Ico looked away.
"I am, Ico," she pushed, "Whether there's blood or water or fire or whatever. You have been my brother since I was eight years old and there will never be anything less that you are to me than that. You are my family and I love you like a brother. Understand that, Ico."
"You're so clever," he murmered, "So clever for anything I have to say. You'll think it's silly, Sai."
"Don't be stupid. I won't. Please tell me, Ico."
Ico sighed and gave up. He told her. He told her everything. Her name, her age, her face, her movements, how her mother had locked her in a cage, how he had rescued her. He told her of their adventures, their heartache, their victories, and failures. Most of which, was when they had opened the gates, and they had been so close to escape, so close. He told her of how he had landed on a cage, how he couldn't find her. He told her of how he killed all the Spirits and went to find the Queen and killed her too with the Sword.
Once he had finished, Siania stared at him, wordless.
"How sad," she whispered croakily.
Ico smiled.
"That was the first thing she ever said that I could physically understand. How sad. Hmm."
And then he told her what happened once he had found her on the beach.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn struck Siania like a blow to the head. They had slept in!
Hurriedly, she shook Ico awake and he quickly fed and saddled Riia, grabbing the supplies and glugging back a mouthful of water, handing the rest to Siania. They literally leapt on the mare's back and galloped off into the morning as fast as they could.
They only just escaped the Spirits twice.
* * * * * * * * * * *
After another exhausting day of endless cat and mouse chasing, Ico managed to run away from the Spirits until another sunset, and reliefs soared as the village of Ara P'Way emerged from the endless horizon. Siania cheered, and Ico urged Riia forwards, who seemed just as eager to be safe again.
"Look, there's the castle, Ico," Siania whispered to him, her horn tips gently nudging him. Ico looked up and saw the residence of the man who had wanted Yorda dead. Perhaps killed her, unless the Spirits had gotten her first. He rode ever onwards. He would avenge her soul.
* * * * * * * * * * *
That night, the beautiful Princess of Light and Shadow dreamt of her boy.