A Curse of Shadows (Updates Every Sunday 6.00pm UK Time)

Chapter 6 - Escape

An inner sense of unrest fully controlled Rinn as she climbed through the secret passageway behind an ornate bookcase that her father had gifted her at the age of ten, upon advice from Hakon; the same one Oleandra had once used to pass messages between Keon and Rinn.

The princess had to fight back tears as Oleandra passed her a burning candle.

"My princess, is there really no other way? The king does not wish for anyone to leave the castle at this time. Least of all you. Maybe if you showed him the magic he would understand."

"You really believe that?"

Oleandra nodded. Her doe eyes gleamed with staggering innocence.

"Right now it's only a small glimmer. My father will never believe that this glimmer might be the key to our salvation. Even Hakon wouldn't be impressed. I need to speak to the fishermen. I must know what they know. There is no other way."

"Princess...be careful."

"I will, Oleandra. You must wait until you see my sign. Once you see it, you can notify the guard of my disappearance. That will give me enough of a head start."

Oleandra nodded shyly. Night had fallen and a tiny sliver of moon was beginning to rise.

"Don't worry. They won't hurt me...nor you. All will be well. The night will conceal me. By the time they figure out what happened, I might already have learned all I need."

A single tear rolled out of Oleandra's eye. Without another word, Rinn turned around and descended the narrow staircase which led through a labyrinth of tunnels and corridors that spread throughout the castle like a network of arteries, connecting the many castle rooms with each other. 

Rinn used her dagger to cut down cobwebs as she made her way past the servant quarters. Every step was taking her closer to the dungeons. Rinn was following blue chalk markings that Oleandra had made for her. 

She figured that the catacombs, below the dungeons, were most likely unguarded, seeing that all of Ivor's men and most of the castle guards were tasked with securing the walls, the throne room, and the chambers of the royal family - including her own. 

The candlelight only allowed Rinn to see a few steps ahead and she was always watching for the treacherous shine of another candle and listened for the footsteps of other servants. The secret passages were mostly abandoned these days. Servants occasionally used them to take shortcuts. 

Rinn felt much more comfortable now that she had swapped the tight mourning garb for a simple pair of leather breeches and a set of chainmail over a simple cotton tunic. Her riding boots made an uncomfortable clicking noise on the damp stone floor. Rinn could feel her green cloak slightly weighing on her shoulders. It seemed like the reassuring touch of an old friend. 

As well as her dagger, Rinn had brought her sword and a couple of moonstone amulets. Although the shadows had retreated, Rinn was in no way naive enough to believe that there was no danger in her quest. At least this time she believed herself fully prepared for whatever encounter awaited her. 

Rinn suppressed a shudder as she recalled the swarms of shadows that had danced over the sea and had attacked the castle a mere twenty-four hours ago. The vague hope to break the curse of shadows and retrieve Keon's soul from the darkness that had swallowed him pulled her forward. Maybe it's not too late after all. 

The closer Rinn got to the dungeons, the stronger the smell of urine and mold. By the time Rinn reached the dungeon master's quarters, the smell had grown to an unbearable stench. It was taking all of Rinn's willpower to want to continue further. The secret passage ended in a measly, tight square cell where the dungeon master usually slept on a damp straw bed. 

The fat, unwashed man whose name Rinn had never learned was making his rounds. Rinn could hear his clumsy steps and the jangling of keys from afar. She pushed the heavy metal disc to one side and pulled herself through the round opening in the dungeon floor. From the other side, the opening looked like a common drain. 

Prepared to draw blood if necessary, Rinn swapped her dagger for her sword. Now or never, the princess told herself as she blew out her candle before sliding out into a dimly lit corridor. A tiny stream of sewage was running the length of each dungeon corridor flanked by cells; some empty, some inhabited by weak, tortured souls that seemed more like shadows than humans.

Rinn had no time to wonder if their fate was just. Obsessed by the sounds of the dungeon master's bundle of keys, she followed the smell of seawater which started to overpower the dungeon stench the closer she got to the catacombs. 

Some of the prisoners were unsettled by Rinn's appearance. It was impossible to tell if they recognized the princess or whether they were simply alerted by the unexpected presence of a woman in such a cruel place; one in chainmail at that. 

Rinn followed a map she had internalized in case she ever needed to leave the castle unseen. It was one of the many adventures Keon and herself had imagined they would have when they grew up. Rinn would never have thought she would be embarking on such an adventure alone.

The map showed the waterway entrance to the castle; one that was sometimes still used to bring prisoners into the dungeons. The princess knew it was unlikely that anybody would be allowed to enter the castle now that the shadows had attacked, making this the best way to escape.

Once she passed the iron gate, she would have access to a rowing boat. With a bit of luck, she could make it across the bay. The catacombs were claustrophobic in some places, vast in others. Low, flat ceilings regularly gave way to spacious natural caves that had been carved by the ever-moving tide. 

Rinn sighed with relief as the iron gate appeared before her. She put the sword back in its sheath and started to turn the squealing crank without delay. The gate began to lift. It was a painfully slow process.

"There you are!"

Rinn screamed in shock. She let go of the crank and the gate fell back in place with an earth-shattering crunch. Rinn pulled her sword and swung around to see Ivor stepping out of the shadows.