The storm raged through the night. Lightning split the heavens. Thunder rolled across the sea. Towering waves battered the Rikmans-yflir as the Kraken surrounded the ship. The monster was larger than any creature the crew had imagined. Its enormous tentacles rose from the depths like living towers. Each was thick as an ancient oak tree.
Its eyes glowed beneath the water. Watching. Waiting. Judging.
The sailors stood frozen. Some gripped axes. Others whispered prayers. One began composing what he believed would be his final farewell.
Only Rikus stepped forward. Unfortunately, Rikus had no plan. This was not unusual.
The Kraken lifted a massive tentacle and wrapped it around the ship. Timbers groaned. The crew cried out. The longship shuddered.
Another tentacle rose from the black water. Death seemed certain. The navigator swallowed hard and shouted "Do something!"
Rikus nodded. "I have an idea. "The crew groaned. Sven groaned louder. Several sailors briefly considered jumping overboard.
The Kraken tilted its head. Even sea monsters seemed curious about what foolishness might follow.
Rikus climbed onto a barrel. The barrel immediately rolled away. He fell onto the deck. Sven helped him back up. Rikus cleared his throat.
Then he began to sing. The crew stared. The Kraken stared. The storm itself appeared confused.
It was not a good song. In fact, many would later argue it was one of the worst songs ever performed upon the sea. The melody wandered aimlessly. The rhythm frequently disappeared. Several rhymes committed crimes against language.
One verse concerned a goat. Another concerned fermented herring. A third appeared to be entirely about losing socks. Yet somehow Rikus sang with such confidence that he never noticed. The sailors wished the Kraken would eat him quickly.
Instead, something unexpected happened. A laugh echoed beneath the waves. The sound was soft at first. Almost musical. Then it came again. Stronger this time.
The crew looked around nervously. The Kraken looked downward. Something moved beneath the surface. A figure emerged from the dark sea. The sailors gasped.
A young woman rose from the water. Her dark hair flowed like seaweed in the current. Her eyes shimmered like moonlight upon the ocean. Around her shoulders hung a cloak woven from silver scales. She smiled. Then she laughed again.
The Kraken's Daughter.
Rikus stopped singing. "Was it that bad?"
The young woman shook her head. "It was magnificent."
The sailors exchanged looks. They strongly disagreed.
The Kraken's Daughter climbed onto a nearby rock that had somehow appeared among the waves.
She laughed until tears formed in her eyes. "I have never heard anything so ridiculous."
"Thank you," said Rikus proudly.
"It wasn't a compliment."
"Oh."
The Kraken's Daughter studied him carefully. Most sailors who entered these waters begged for mercy. Others attempted to fight. Many simply panicked. None had ever responded with a song about fermented fish.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Rikus Rikmansen."
"Are you always like this?"
"Mostly" replied Rikus.
Sven nodded. The daughter laughed again. Beneath the water, the Kraken let out a deep rumbling sound. At first the sailors feared it was anger. Then they realised the great beast was laughing too. The sound echoed across the sea.
The Kraken shook with amusement. The storm began to weaken. Clouds started to break apart. The winds eased. The waves settled. Even nature seemed unable to remain angry around Rikus for long.
The Kraken's Daughter looked toward the horizon. Then she turned back to the Viking. "You are far from home, Rikus Rikmansen."
"I've noticed" he said scanning the horizon now the storm had eased.
"You sail toward waters no northern sailor has ever crossed."
"That sounds promising."
"It sounds dangerous."
Rikus considered this. "Most promising things are."
The daughter smiled. Perhaps he was wiser than he appeared. Or perhaps he was simply too foolish to fear danger. Either explanation seemed possible.
She pointed into the darkness. Far beyond the storm, a strange glow appeared upon the sea. At first it looked like moonlight. Then the sailors realised it was something else.
The ocean itself was shining. A circle of blue and green light rotated slowly upon the horizon. The water spun around it. Stars seemed to bend above it. The air shimmered.
"What is that?" whispered the navigator.
The Kraken's Daughter became serious.
"It is a path."
"A path to where?" asked Rikus
"To the southern seas" she exclaimed.
The sailors exchanged uneasy glances. No Viking charts showed southern seas. No stories spoke of such places. No navigator had ever recorded them.
"It is a gateway," she continued. "A road between worlds."
The Kraken stirred beneath the waves. Its giant eye fixed upon Rikus.
The daughter smiled. "My father has decided not to eat you."
"That's kind of him."
"Do not make him regret it."
"I shall try."
"Perhaps try harder than usual" She encouraged.
The crew immediately approved of this advice.
The daughter stepped back toward the sea. The water began to rise around her.
"Will we meet again?" asked Rikus.
The sailors rolled their eyes. Even facing a supernatural vortex, Rikus somehow found time for conversation.
The daughter smiled, "Perhaps."
Then she pointed toward the glowing horizon.
"Follow the path."
"What's at the end?" asked Rikus.
The daughter laughed one final time. "If I told you, it would spoil the adventure."
With that she disappeared beneath the waves. The Kraken sank into the depths beside her. The sea became calm and the storm vanished.
Above them the stars shone brightly once more. The sailors stood in silence. No one spoke. No one moved.
Finally the navigator cleared his throat. "Did that actually happen?"
"I think so," said Rikus.
Sven nodded. The goat had witnessed many strange events involving Rikus. This ranked surprisingly high on the list.
Ahead of them, the mysterious glow continued to spin upon the ocean. The vortex waited.
Beyond it lay unknown seas. Unknown lands. And a destiny no Viking could imagine.
Rikus smiled. Adventure was calling. Again.
And this time it was calling from the edge of the world itself.
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