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

Chapter 8 - Turmoil

Rinn heard the chainless gate crunch back onto the ground behind her. A small, wooden jetty stretched into a small lagoon with an opening that was just wide enough to let through a small rudder boat such as the one tied up at the end of the jetty. 

Confidently, the princess jumped into the boat and landed with a heavy thump. The boat rocked significantly from side to side. A splash of water hit Rinn's boots as she untied the boat and grabbed both oars. She kept throwing glances over her right shoulder as she began to steer the small boat towards the moonlit exit. 

Rinn's senses were on high alert. The possibility that the shadows might be out there - lurking - was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Acutely aware of the moonstone amulets around her neck, Rinn hardly noticed her elbows briefly scraping the edges of the crescent-shaped opening. Her chainmail briefly caught on the rough surface. 

Beyond, the lagoon, the sea was in turmoil. Black waves crashed against the cliffs that housed the castle. The wind gave off an eerie moan that reminded the princess of the noises which the shadows had made during their gathering at sea. A light spray of seawater and rain drenched Rinn's hair and cloak in record time. 

Her leather breeches were uncomfortably sticking to her knees and thighs but Rinn's focus was on the next task in hand; the sign she had promised Oleandra so she could alert the castle to the princess' absence. Provided Ivor isn't on the case already, Rinn mused. Careful not to let go of the oars, Rinn stopped rowing and left the small vessel afloat on the stormy waves; like a cork. 

She looked around for any unusual movements in the darkness, secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of Keon's shadow self once more whilst simultaneously feeling terrified that a sudden shadow attack might destroy her chance to gain the ancient knowledge needed to liberate the kingdom. 

The princess took a deep breath, directing her gaze towards the tower window where Oleandra was waiting obediently. Rinn caught a glimpse of Oleandra's braid, fluttering in the wind and spray rain. Imagining her heart to be aglow with magic, Rinn softly blew out the air she had stored in her lungs. A long, golden swirl materialized and began to travel upwards. 

The swirl had hardly escaped Rinn's pursed lips when the wind took possession of it, lifting it up further. It was barely glowing when Oleandra spotted it. Insignificant enough to go unnoticed by the castle guards on the walls, it shimmered just enough for Oleandra to be able to identify it as magic. 

Rinn began to row her boat again. This time she threw her back into every movement of the oars, determined to reach the fishing village in the vicinity of the distant lighthouse; Rinn's only reference point in the salty darkness. However dangerous her mission, an overwhelming sense of responsibility drove the princess forward. 

Her muscly arms seemed to have fused with the oars, digging deep into the increasingly thunderous waves. The spray rain turned into a firing of cold, painful missiles from the dark sky overhead. Rinn could vaguely make out the shining beacon of light emanating from the lighthouse every time she glanced ahead. 

She desperately tried to keep the boat as close to the beach as was possible without risking any damage to the vessel by the rocks she knew were hiding underneath the ocean surface near land. Waves started washing over her, at erratic intervals, causing her to swallow salty water that made her nose and throat burn. Rinn felt chilled to her core. 

The gale blew at her from all directions, it seemed. Only a rider, shrouded in a dark velvet cloak with the hood pulled deep into his face, was aware of Rinn's movements. From the beach, he watched the small boat dancing on the stormy waves, tossing and turning; a mere plaything of the gods that held a human life. 

Rin gritted her teeth. Her arms were tired, her shoulders ached desperately. The lights of the now distant castle were getting further away with every pull at the oars. Her braided, hair was drenched with sweat, seawater, and rain. The weight of it pulled at Rinn's head and made her backache. 

Another glance over her shoulder told the princess that she was now close enough to the lighthouse to target the shore. She could vaguely make out a couple of huts; its windows lit by a flickering fire and a near-invisible trail of smoke emanating from their chimneys. Rinn threw all of her efforts into her right arm to try and steer the boat towards land. 

She had to be careful to gauge the correct distance at which it would be necessary for her to jump into the raging waves and swim ashore. The thought frightened and excited her for a moment, then, another large wave crashed over her head, ripping the right oar out of her clenched hand. Rinn could feel it being sucked into the depth of the ocean. 

Her mouth filled with water before she could so much as scream in frustration. The boat faltered and nearly turned over but Rinn was able to stabilize it by wedging her numb legs against either side of the vessel. Grabbing the remaining oar with both hands, she managed to free it from its metal ring and used it as a paddle to keep the boat on course. 

The wind roared. If there were any stars looking down on her, Rinn couldn't make them out through the storm. Her eyes were half-closed, burning with sea salt and tears. Although the princess paddled furiously, the beach didn't seem to get any closer. The waves created a sucking motion that caused the boat to stay in place no matter how hard Rinn paddled. 

Then, a sudden gale blew at Rinn. She lost control of the boat. A black wave licked briefly at the boat, then hurled the oar out of the water. Rinn got hit in the stomach. The oar slipped a little and, for a moment, Rinn was sure that she was about to lose this one, too. The princess watched the beach huts become smaller as she was hurled towards the open sea. 

In one last attempt to save her own life, and fulfill what she believed to be her destiny, Rinn surrendered the second oar to the furious waves. She secured her sword and dagger, then said a silent prayer - one of the ancient kind that Hakon had taught her to say when she was a child; innocently at play. 

Rinn briefly yearned for the days when the shadows had been a distant tale to frighten children, rather than a daily and constant threat to herself and those around her. I trust the gods to protect me and support me in my honorable mission to free this land from evil, Rinn firmly thought before she inhaled a deep, salty breath of air; bravely launching herself into the dark waters.