-Yorda-
By Julie Danskin
Chapter 11 - Yorda -
The village was bigger than Furwha, but then it was the capital of the island of Darripise, and much richer too. Ico walked Riia through the gates cautiously, the horse's ears twitching at the sounds of movement around the village. Some eyes turned to Siania because she had horns, and Ico noticed her cheeks burning with embarrassment. He turned to her and smiled broadly, whispering to her gently that they would understand soon. She looked at him, puzzled.
A horned rider, like the one that had taken Ico from his home met them half way through the city centre.
"Hello," said the guard coldly, looking at Siania, "Not seen a horned kid in a while. Thought they'd all died out." He chuckled at his own joke. Ico felt Siania tremble behind him, and Ico glowered at the guard angrily.
"Where do you want us to go?" he asked the guard, who seemed surprised at the question.
"Well, the castle of course. But you might want to see the place you're going to be staying in first. You can dump your - ah - belongings there. Follow me," the guard said, and turned to leave. Ico and Siania followed on Riia.
They reached a small hut with crumbling bricks outside and a slate roof. Ico dismounted Riia and reached up for his sister, who hopped down and stood outside.
"I'll go and take Riia to the stables. We'll walk up to the castle - it's not far. I don't think the villagers like horses riding through the roads," Ico told her, "Wait here."
"Alright," Siania said, "But they let us ride Riia through Furwha all the time, what's wrong with it here?"
Ico shrugged. "I guess the people of Ara P'Way don't like horses. I'll be back in a moment. You take the bags off her and put them inside the hut. We'll sort them out later."
Siania nodded and ran off inside with the bags. Ico took Riia's bridle and led the tired horse into the stables nearby the house. The horned guard followed Ico into the stables and tapped him on the shoulder abruptly. Ico turned to meet his gaze, but could barely see his eyes through the mask the guard wore.
"Why do you look at her so strangely when you are horned yourself?" Ico asked him curiously, gently lifting Riia's saddle from her back, making her tensed shoulders relax.
"It's a helmet," the guard answered, a little sheepishly, "Your friend looked like the one I took the horns from."
"You mean you took them from them? The children?"
"Only the corpses! We opened one crypt each to take the horns."
Ico felt his stomach churn in disgust.
"Anyway, it's all done now. It was a long time ago, I took it from that girl. I got to know her traveling to the old castle, you know. I thought she should be the one I had a bit of. Now, I'll leave you and your friend now-"
"Sister," Ico corrected instinctively, "Siania's my sister."
"Right. Well I'm sure you can find the castle, I mean, you can hardly miss it, can you? Don't worry, it's inside the village walls so the Spirits can't get at you, I saw you running from them earlier."
Thanks for coming to help then, thought Ico bitterly, but kept his smile.
"Well, thanks for showing us where to stay. Now who will I ask for? The prince or a servant in the castle?" Ico asked, hoping for it to be a quick question and answer so the guard would go away and he could leave with Siania before it began to rain.
"What?"
"Who should I ask for?"
"Oh, I'd best say the prince, boy. He's more likely to know where She is."
"Where she is what? Where she is to be put?"
The guard gave him a strange little look and ignored it.
"I'm sure that She'll be nice to you. She's forever talking about-"
"Siania is always nice."
"Her name's not Siania, you know. Or is that what you call Her in your horned sanctuary?"
"I'm pretty sure that's her name everywhere."
"Not here, and She lives here, so I'm pretty sure our name is correct."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The Princess of course! Who did you think I was talking about? Your sister?"
Ico's heart skipped a beat. Princess? He had only been told of a prince.
"Who is this princess?"
"Go and see for yourself! Don't waste my time with your riddles, boy!"
The guard turned on his heels suddenly and walked off huffily, leaving Ico quite bewildered.
"Uhh-" he mumbled, then shook his head and led Riia into the stable, who immediately went for the water beginning to collect in the trough. "I'll go and get you some hay while I'm out, alright girl?" he told her, and went to meet Siania, who was standing in the rain waiting for him.
"Come on then!" she called to him, "I bet it's about an hour's walk to that castle, and the rain will be mad by then. We should have taken Riia, no matter what the people think!"
"She's too tired, it wouldn't be fair," he replied, and saw Siania look a little guilty. He took her hand lovingly, and ran with her up to the castle.
Once they had become tired running and decided to walk instead, Siania asked him:
"Inside the house there was a strange picture above the fireplace. It was of a girl I'd never seen before, one side of her face was light and pretty, the other side was dark and you could only see her eyes." Siania told him. Ico looked at her, interested.
"How old did she look?" he asked her.
"About seven, maybe eight. There were some letters at the bottom of the painting, but I didn't recognise them, it was like some strange language I couldn't read. Can you?"
"I only know the language I'm speaking now, Sai. Sorry. Maybe you can find someone in the village who can tell you what they mean."
"Who'd want to talk to a horned girl?"
"Don't be so silly, Siania. Once the villagers see what a nice person you are, they'll be queuing up to speak to you,' Ico lied.
Siania nodded unbelievingly, and left the subject there.
As they walked up the hill up to the castle, they passed a busy well, where Ico spotted a woman from the corner of his eye that seemed to glow. He turned round for a closer look, but when he looked to where she had been, someone else had taken the spot. The girl had disappeared.
"Ico?" Siania asked, pulling on his arm. Ico nodded wordlessly, and followed Siania up the hill, "Oh look there's a horse going up to the castle there, Ico!" she cried, "Oh we should have taken Riia!"
"I told you she was too tired," repeated Ico wearily, watching the white horse ride up the hill, reaching the castle quickly, "Don't worry, we'll be there in ten minutes."
"My legs are tired," moaned Siania.
"What? You've walked much farther than this before in worse conditions."
"I know, I think it's just because I've not slept well."
"Don't fret, you can have a rest tomorrow. Promise."
Siania nodded sleepily, and Ico scooped her up with his strong arms and lifted her onto his broad shoulders. Many women back at Furwha found him attractive because of his well-built body, but none of them cared about him for what he was inside - trapped. That was why Ico was alone.
Fifteen minutes later, Ico reached the top of the hill the castle was on, still inside the sturdy village walls. The castle was a little while from the village itself, but seemed to be very much a part of it.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico knocked on the huge door of the castle twenty minutes later, Siania cowering fearfully behind him. A large man wearing a thick brown jacket and green trousers opened the door. He had a long moustache which Ico thought would probably tickle his nose, and his neck was devoured in his multiple chins. He was a funny sight, much more comical than Siania had been expecting, as she had to stifle a laugh.
The man looked hurt, however, and Ico saw guilt flood the girl's eyes, followed by compassion.
"Hello," Ico said politely, and the guard's moustache bristled amusingly, "Can I see the prince, please?"
"A horned girl? Not seen one of those since the old castle. I used to work there, you know. I was on an errand when it, you know, sank. Ironic, isn't it?" the man chuckled gruffly.
Ico nodded, "Is it alright if I leave Sai here with you while I speak to him? It's just that-"
The man took Ico aside, leaving Siania looking over curiously, evidently annoyed, "You don't want to talk about her fate with Her and the prince while she's there?" he asked.
Ico nodded again, and the man clapped his hands, looking warmly over to Siania.
"Well, young miss. Looks like we'll be getting to know each other for a while. My name is Biocha, what's yours?" he asked. Siania looked at the huge man strangely, then smiled warmly and held out her hand.
"Siania," she told him, and beamed at Biocha when he shook her hand, "I'm sure we're going to be good friends."
Biocha nodded to Ico, and he winked, turned and then realised he had no idea where he was going. He was just about to ask Biocha, but with his back still turned to him, he looked up from Siania and said, "Up the stairs and it's the first door on your left. There's a guard outside so you can ask him. Don't worry, I'll look after your friend."
"Sister," he heard Siania correct him once Ico had thanked Biocha and began to climb the staircase, and smiled to himself. He turned to the left and saw a heavily built guard with a beard that reached down to his neck.
"Permission to see the prince," Ico said firmly. He had been told by Raath not to appear flimsy, not that Ico could. The guard nodded and stepped aside to open the door.
"The prince is in their with Her," he told him, and Ico nodded plainly, moving through the doorway.
The minute he stepped over the threshold, he knew he had made a mistake and wanted to move back through the door that had closed behind him, trapping him in with Yorda's killer. What if the prince tried to kill him?
Ico paced slowly through the huge room with a dome roof and fancy furniture scattered carelessly around it as if it was not wanted but simply put up with. Ico ran his hand along a silk sofa's back luxuriously, and imagined Yorda beside him.
Suddenly, a cry of frustration came from the next room. People had just moved into it as he could hear two different voices. They must have been in another room out of earshot and had just come into this one. Ico could hear their words clearly.
"Wait!" a male voice said, "Don't go."
"Why not?" replied a female voice, full of fire and anger, "I'm in charge here, Keo, not you. Not Giannias."
"Why won't you listen? I'm trying to help you!"
A laugh came from the female and Ico heard her walking across the room towards the main one he was in. Ico hoped she wouldn't get all the way through; he hated being in the midst of arguments. The man must have caught her, as she made another irritated noise and the footsteps ceased.
"Please. Look, I'm only asking you to think about it. It's not like I'm forcing you-"
"The thing is, Keo, I don't love Giannias. I could never do that to myself, or my kingdom."
"Your kingdom thinks you should marry him."
"You made them think he is a good man. He isn't, Keo. I've seen his soul!"
It was the man's turn to laugh.
"Oh please, dear sister, not this again. You can't see-"
"You know I can."
There was silence, and the woman bean walking again. The man cried after her.
"You can't run from your destiny!"
"I've done it before."
"That doesn't count, in the tower. Firstly, that was years ago, and secondly, that was what fate had in store, just as fate made me find you, and rescue you."
The woman started to retort, but decided against it and began to walk again, defiant and angry. Ico had a feeling she wouldn't stop, and the man wouldn't try to halt her.
"Look, Keoden. I don't care about my past and I don't care about my fate. What I do care about is love, and my people. I will not fail them, whether you think it is right or not!"
"You'll see sense, dear sister."
"Will I?"
The door opened, and Ico gasped at the woman who emerged from behind it.
She was slightly taller, yes, with her features more mature but still young and innocent, full of vivacity and animation. Yes, she was different, but it was still her.
Yorda.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda looked at Ico's stricken face strangely, but was too annoyed and antagonised to pursue why he was so shocked. He wondered why she didn't recognise him. When he had seen her, he was sure she would cry his name, run towards him and hold him tight, never letting him go-
"Hello?" a voice said, interrupting Ico's disappointment that she had barely cast her eyes over his face. He looked up and saw the man she had been arguing with, "I'm Prince Keoden. You wished to see me?" Yorda's killer. Supposed killer.
"I-I'm Ico, from Furwha Sanctuary. I -uh- sorry, who was that girl you were fighting with?"
"Is it anything to do with why you're here?" the prince snapped.
"No, but-"
"It's not your concern," he snarled, before adding, "How can you not know her?"
"Furwha Sanctuary has never-"
"No, they wouldn't, would they? Don't believe in female rulers. Nor do I, but I was the youngest. Oh, and they're angry at the royal family for putting their horned children through torture. Best thing for the cursed, you know, death. Puts a message before the people."
Ico scowled.
"That's actually why I'm here," he said coldly, "My sister Siania, you see- "
"OH! Sorry, uh, that's embarrassing. As is my sister, Princess Yorda."
Confirmation. Confirmation it was Yorda. His Yorda. She was alive, and had been all this time. He had to see her, had to speak to her. Had to tell her it was him, and that he was alive and had missed her.
"What? Horned?" Ico asked clumsily.
"No, embarrassing. Why would the ruler of the islands be one we strived to rid ourselves of? Well, I do anyway. Yorda insists that they are no different."
Ico smiled inwardly to himself.
"Anyway, you're probably to see her. Where are you staying, boy?"
"Ico. I'm staying with my sister about an hour from here. A spare house, it's got a slate roof and bricks that look they're away to fall in any-"
"I know the one you mean. Many visitors stay in that hut. Well make yourself comfortable there, Yorda takes eons to make decisions. I'll send her over in the morning. I think she'll be glad to do something different. There hasn't been a horned child since the castle collapsed.
That means I was the last one before Siania to be sacrificed, Ico thought, but shook the vision of Siania in a crypt, crying for Kiassa and Raath bitterly, while Ico could only stand and do nothing while the Yorda he knew, grown up and beautiful, stood by with her brother and laughed.
"Alright, thank you sire." Ico managed to spit, bowed, and ran out of the door, stumbling over the fine carpets. He knocked over the guard and jumped down the stairs, hoping to catch Yorda. He wanted to ask her who her brother wanted her to marry, wanted to help her. He could rescue her again, he had done it once before.
She wasn't there, just Biocha playing with Siania at marbles.
"Hello, Ico!" Siania called to him cheerily, "Me and Biocha were just-"
"Sorry, Sai, we have to go," Ico told her urgently, "I'll bring you to see Biocha soon."
"Aww! But Ico!" Siania protested.
"It's okay, young miss," Biocha told her warmly, "I best be getting back to work anyway before my boss finds out I've been playing on my watch. But I'll be here next time you come, just ask for me if I ain't by the door because God knows if I'll be somewhere in this damned castle. Did you see Her by the way, sir?"
"Yes, Biocha. I did." Ico replied, and thanked him for looking after Siania, took his sister's hand and led her back down to the village, a thousand thoughts flooding his head, with only one conclusion.
Yorda.
Chapter 11 - Yorda -
The village was bigger than Furwha, but then it was the capital of the island of Darripise, and much richer too. Ico walked Riia through the gates cautiously, the horse's ears twitching at the sounds of movement around the village. Some eyes turned to Siania because she had horns, and Ico noticed her cheeks burning with embarrassment. He turned to her and smiled broadly, whispering to her gently that they would understand soon. She looked at him, puzzled.
A horned rider, like the one that had taken Ico from his home met them half way through the city centre.
"Hello," said the guard coldly, looking at Siania, "Not seen a horned kid in a while. Thought they'd all died out." He chuckled at his own joke. Ico felt Siania tremble behind him, and Ico glowered at the guard angrily.
"Where do you want us to go?" he asked the guard, who seemed surprised at the question.
"Well, the castle of course. But you might want to see the place you're going to be staying in first. You can dump your - ah - belongings there. Follow me," the guard said, and turned to leave. Ico and Siania followed on Riia.
They reached a small hut with crumbling bricks outside and a slate roof. Ico dismounted Riia and reached up for his sister, who hopped down and stood outside.
"I'll go and take Riia to the stables. We'll walk up to the castle - it's not far. I don't think the villagers like horses riding through the roads," Ico told her, "Wait here."
"Alright," Siania said, "But they let us ride Riia through Furwha all the time, what's wrong with it here?"
Ico shrugged. "I guess the people of Ara P'Way don't like horses. I'll be back in a moment. You take the bags off her and put them inside the hut. We'll sort them out later."
Siania nodded and ran off inside with the bags. Ico took Riia's bridle and led the tired horse into the stables nearby the house. The horned guard followed Ico into the stables and tapped him on the shoulder abruptly. Ico turned to meet his gaze, but could barely see his eyes through the mask the guard wore.
"Why do you look at her so strangely when you are horned yourself?" Ico asked him curiously, gently lifting Riia's saddle from her back, making her tensed shoulders relax.
"It's a helmet," the guard answered, a little sheepishly, "Your friend looked like the one I took the horns from."
"You mean you took them from them? The children?"
"Only the corpses! We opened one crypt each to take the horns."
Ico felt his stomach churn in disgust.
"Anyway, it's all done now. It was a long time ago, I took it from that girl. I got to know her traveling to the old castle, you know. I thought she should be the one I had a bit of. Now, I'll leave you and your friend now-"
"Sister," Ico corrected instinctively, "Siania's my sister."
"Right. Well I'm sure you can find the castle, I mean, you can hardly miss it, can you? Don't worry, it's inside the village walls so the Spirits can't get at you, I saw you running from them earlier."
Thanks for coming to help then, thought Ico bitterly, but kept his smile.
"Well, thanks for showing us where to stay. Now who will I ask for? The prince or a servant in the castle?" Ico asked, hoping for it to be a quick question and answer so the guard would go away and he could leave with Siania before it began to rain.
"What?"
"Who should I ask for?"
"Oh, I'd best say the prince, boy. He's more likely to know where She is."
"Where she is what? Where she is to be put?"
The guard gave him a strange little look and ignored it.
"I'm sure that She'll be nice to you. She's forever talking about-"
"Siania is always nice."
"Her name's not Siania, you know. Or is that what you call Her in your horned sanctuary?"
"I'm pretty sure that's her name everywhere."
"Not here, and She lives here, so I'm pretty sure our name is correct."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The Princess of course! Who did you think I was talking about? Your sister?"
Ico's heart skipped a beat. Princess? He had only been told of a prince.
"Who is this princess?"
"Go and see for yourself! Don't waste my time with your riddles, boy!"
The guard turned on his heels suddenly and walked off huffily, leaving Ico quite bewildered.
"Uhh-" he mumbled, then shook his head and led Riia into the stable, who immediately went for the water beginning to collect in the trough. "I'll go and get you some hay while I'm out, alright girl?" he told her, and went to meet Siania, who was standing in the rain waiting for him.
"Come on then!" she called to him, "I bet it's about an hour's walk to that castle, and the rain will be mad by then. We should have taken Riia, no matter what the people think!"
"She's too tired, it wouldn't be fair," he replied, and saw Siania look a little guilty. He took her hand lovingly, and ran with her up to the castle.
Once they had become tired running and decided to walk instead, Siania asked him:
"Inside the house there was a strange picture above the fireplace. It was of a girl I'd never seen before, one side of her face was light and pretty, the other side was dark and you could only see her eyes." Siania told him. Ico looked at her, interested.
"How old did she look?" he asked her.
"About seven, maybe eight. There were some letters at the bottom of the painting, but I didn't recognise them, it was like some strange language I couldn't read. Can you?"
"I only know the language I'm speaking now, Sai. Sorry. Maybe you can find someone in the village who can tell you what they mean."
"Who'd want to talk to a horned girl?"
"Don't be so silly, Siania. Once the villagers see what a nice person you are, they'll be queuing up to speak to you,' Ico lied.
Siania nodded unbelievingly, and left the subject there.
As they walked up the hill up to the castle, they passed a busy well, where Ico spotted a woman from the corner of his eye that seemed to glow. He turned round for a closer look, but when he looked to where she had been, someone else had taken the spot. The girl had disappeared.
"Ico?" Siania asked, pulling on his arm. Ico nodded wordlessly, and followed Siania up the hill, "Oh look there's a horse going up to the castle there, Ico!" she cried, "Oh we should have taken Riia!"
"I told you she was too tired," repeated Ico wearily, watching the white horse ride up the hill, reaching the castle quickly, "Don't worry, we'll be there in ten minutes."
"My legs are tired," moaned Siania.
"What? You've walked much farther than this before in worse conditions."
"I know, I think it's just because I've not slept well."
"Don't fret, you can have a rest tomorrow. Promise."
Siania nodded sleepily, and Ico scooped her up with his strong arms and lifted her onto his broad shoulders. Many women back at Furwha found him attractive because of his well-built body, but none of them cared about him for what he was inside - trapped. That was why Ico was alone.
Fifteen minutes later, Ico reached the top of the hill the castle was on, still inside the sturdy village walls. The castle was a little while from the village itself, but seemed to be very much a part of it.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico knocked on the huge door of the castle twenty minutes later, Siania cowering fearfully behind him. A large man wearing a thick brown jacket and green trousers opened the door. He had a long moustache which Ico thought would probably tickle his nose, and his neck was devoured in his multiple chins. He was a funny sight, much more comical than Siania had been expecting, as she had to stifle a laugh.
The man looked hurt, however, and Ico saw guilt flood the girl's eyes, followed by compassion.
"Hello," Ico said politely, and the guard's moustache bristled amusingly, "Can I see the prince, please?"
"A horned girl? Not seen one of those since the old castle. I used to work there, you know. I was on an errand when it, you know, sank. Ironic, isn't it?" the man chuckled gruffly.
Ico nodded, "Is it alright if I leave Sai here with you while I speak to him? It's just that-"
The man took Ico aside, leaving Siania looking over curiously, evidently annoyed, "You don't want to talk about her fate with Her and the prince while she's there?" he asked.
Ico nodded again, and the man clapped his hands, looking warmly over to Siania.
"Well, young miss. Looks like we'll be getting to know each other for a while. My name is Biocha, what's yours?" he asked. Siania looked at the huge man strangely, then smiled warmly and held out her hand.
"Siania," she told him, and beamed at Biocha when he shook her hand, "I'm sure we're going to be good friends."
Biocha nodded to Ico, and he winked, turned and then realised he had no idea where he was going. He was just about to ask Biocha, but with his back still turned to him, he looked up from Siania and said, "Up the stairs and it's the first door on your left. There's a guard outside so you can ask him. Don't worry, I'll look after your friend."
"Sister," he heard Siania correct him once Ico had thanked Biocha and began to climb the staircase, and smiled to himself. He turned to the left and saw a heavily built guard with a beard that reached down to his neck.
"Permission to see the prince," Ico said firmly. He had been told by Raath not to appear flimsy, not that Ico could. The guard nodded and stepped aside to open the door.
"The prince is in their with Her," he told him, and Ico nodded plainly, moving through the doorway.
The minute he stepped over the threshold, he knew he had made a mistake and wanted to move back through the door that had closed behind him, trapping him in with Yorda's killer. What if the prince tried to kill him?
Ico paced slowly through the huge room with a dome roof and fancy furniture scattered carelessly around it as if it was not wanted but simply put up with. Ico ran his hand along a silk sofa's back luxuriously, and imagined Yorda beside him.
Suddenly, a cry of frustration came from the next room. People had just moved into it as he could hear two different voices. They must have been in another room out of earshot and had just come into this one. Ico could hear their words clearly.
"Wait!" a male voice said, "Don't go."
"Why not?" replied a female voice, full of fire and anger, "I'm in charge here, Keo, not you. Not Giannias."
"Why won't you listen? I'm trying to help you!"
A laugh came from the female and Ico heard her walking across the room towards the main one he was in. Ico hoped she wouldn't get all the way through; he hated being in the midst of arguments. The man must have caught her, as she made another irritated noise and the footsteps ceased.
"Please. Look, I'm only asking you to think about it. It's not like I'm forcing you-"
"The thing is, Keo, I don't love Giannias. I could never do that to myself, or my kingdom."
"Your kingdom thinks you should marry him."
"You made them think he is a good man. He isn't, Keo. I've seen his soul!"
It was the man's turn to laugh.
"Oh please, dear sister, not this again. You can't see-"
"You know I can."
There was silence, and the woman bean walking again. The man cried after her.
"You can't run from your destiny!"
"I've done it before."
"That doesn't count, in the tower. Firstly, that was years ago, and secondly, that was what fate had in store, just as fate made me find you, and rescue you."
The woman started to retort, but decided against it and began to walk again, defiant and angry. Ico had a feeling she wouldn't stop, and the man wouldn't try to halt her.
"Look, Keoden. I don't care about my past and I don't care about my fate. What I do care about is love, and my people. I will not fail them, whether you think it is right or not!"
"You'll see sense, dear sister."
"Will I?"
The door opened, and Ico gasped at the woman who emerged from behind it.
She was slightly taller, yes, with her features more mature but still young and innocent, full of vivacity and animation. Yes, she was different, but it was still her.
Yorda.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda looked at Ico's stricken face strangely, but was too annoyed and antagonised to pursue why he was so shocked. He wondered why she didn't recognise him. When he had seen her, he was sure she would cry his name, run towards him and hold him tight, never letting him go-
"Hello?" a voice said, interrupting Ico's disappointment that she had barely cast her eyes over his face. He looked up and saw the man she had been arguing with, "I'm Prince Keoden. You wished to see me?" Yorda's killer. Supposed killer.
"I-I'm Ico, from Furwha Sanctuary. I -uh- sorry, who was that girl you were fighting with?"
"Is it anything to do with why you're here?" the prince snapped.
"No, but-"
"It's not your concern," he snarled, before adding, "How can you not know her?"
"Furwha Sanctuary has never-"
"No, they wouldn't, would they? Don't believe in female rulers. Nor do I, but I was the youngest. Oh, and they're angry at the royal family for putting their horned children through torture. Best thing for the cursed, you know, death. Puts a message before the people."
Ico scowled.
"That's actually why I'm here," he said coldly, "My sister Siania, you see- "
"OH! Sorry, uh, that's embarrassing. As is my sister, Princess Yorda."
Confirmation. Confirmation it was Yorda. His Yorda. She was alive, and had been all this time. He had to see her, had to speak to her. Had to tell her it was him, and that he was alive and had missed her.
"What? Horned?" Ico asked clumsily.
"No, embarrassing. Why would the ruler of the islands be one we strived to rid ourselves of? Well, I do anyway. Yorda insists that they are no different."
Ico smiled inwardly to himself.
"Anyway, you're probably to see her. Where are you staying, boy?"
"Ico. I'm staying with my sister about an hour from here. A spare house, it's got a slate roof and bricks that look they're away to fall in any-"
"I know the one you mean. Many visitors stay in that hut. Well make yourself comfortable there, Yorda takes eons to make decisions. I'll send her over in the morning. I think she'll be glad to do something different. There hasn't been a horned child since the castle collapsed.
That means I was the last one before Siania to be sacrificed, Ico thought, but shook the vision of Siania in a crypt, crying for Kiassa and Raath bitterly, while Ico could only stand and do nothing while the Yorda he knew, grown up and beautiful, stood by with her brother and laughed.
"Alright, thank you sire." Ico managed to spit, bowed, and ran out of the door, stumbling over the fine carpets. He knocked over the guard and jumped down the stairs, hoping to catch Yorda. He wanted to ask her who her brother wanted her to marry, wanted to help her. He could rescue her again, he had done it once before.
She wasn't there, just Biocha playing with Siania at marbles.
"Hello, Ico!" Siania called to him cheerily, "Me and Biocha were just-"
"Sorry, Sai, we have to go," Ico told her urgently, "I'll bring you to see Biocha soon."
"Aww! But Ico!" Siania protested.
"It's okay, young miss," Biocha told her warmly, "I best be getting back to work anyway before my boss finds out I've been playing on my watch. But I'll be here next time you come, just ask for me if I ain't by the door because God knows if I'll be somewhere in this damned castle. Did you see Her by the way, sir?"
"Yes, Biocha. I did." Ico replied, and thanked him for looking after Siania, took his sister's hand and led her back down to the village, a thousand thoughts flooding his head, with only one conclusion.
Yorda.