Page 21 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“The boy comes here often to play,” Sir Rick told her.

She spun around to look at Rick. “How do you know that?”

“Or, at least I think that’s what my – what Orrick – the sorcerer said.”

Again, the boy giggled.

“Noah, perhaps you’d better go down to the kitchen and see if there is something you can do,” Sir Rick told him.

“I don’t want to go. I want to stay here and be a sorcerer’s apprentice.” The boy stood on his head on the bed, threatening to topple over.

“Here, let me help you down.” When Hope went to reach for him, her travel bag slipped off her shoulder. The bag hit the floor and, to her horror, the book about the Eternal Flame fell out.

“What’s that?” asked Sir Rick from the other side of the room.

“What’s what?” She acted like she didn’t know what he meant.

“The book. Where did you get it?” Sir Rick’s eyes bored into her. She had to tell him something now. Perhaps he didn’t know about the sorcerer’s things or magic. She had to take the chance that possibly he wasn’t even close to Orrick even though they were related somehow.

“Oh, that.” She feigned surprise, bending down to get it, but Noah got there first. The little boy scooped up the book and stared at the cover.

“Lord Corbett is teaching me to read,” Noah said excitedly. “Watch. I can read this book. “The Et – Et –” he started, staring at the title, making a face, not knowing the word.

“Eternal,” Hope told him. “It means forever.” She tapped the title with her finger. “The Eternal Flame.”

“The Eternal Flame,” repeated the little boy, beaming, he was so proud of himself. “I want to read the inside, too.”

“Nay, you won’t be able to read that,” said Sir Rick from across the room. “It’s protected by magic so only the sorcerer knows what it says.” Closing his eyes, he folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back in the chair.

“I can read it. I can, I can.” Noah opened the book and stared at the pages but said nothing. Sir Rick looked like he had fallen asleep. “I can’t,” said the boy sadly, looking like he was about to cry as he handed the book back to Hope. Her heart went out to him.

“Here, let me help you,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed with the book. The boy smiled and climbed atop her lap. “Now, you follow along with me as I read and point to the words so you can learn.”

“I will,” said the boy with wide eyes and a nod.

“The Eternal Flame will burn forever, bringing immortality to the guardian, or Keeper of the Flame, for as long as he or she holds the power,” she read aloud. She noticed Sir Rick’s eyes pop open. She continued to read. “It is imperative that the one have magic in order to –”

“What does imperative mean?” asked the boy, looking down at the book.

“Well, it means –”

“Never mind what it means.” Sir Rick jumped up and ran across the room, knocking into a chair and falling on the ground in the rushes.

“I want to play, too,” cried Noah, jumping off the bed and landing on top of Sir Rick.

“Oomph,” said Sir Rick as the air left his lungs with the boy’s weight atop him. Noah pretended to be riding him like a horse.

“Nay, Noah, get off of Sir Rick!” Hope shouted. “He’s wounded and you’re going to hurt him.”

“Immortal people can’t get hurt,” said the boy. “Can they?”

“What? Well, no, I don’t think so,” said Hope, figuring the boy was still thinking about the sentence she read from the book.

“Time to go, Noah.” Sir Rick sprang to his feet, scooping up the boy under one arm and heading across the room. With one hand he pulled open the door to reveal the castle steward and Hope’s sister on the other side. They were in a passionate embrace, kissing.

“What are they doing?” said the boy, pointing at the couple.

“Nay, we’re not going out there.” Sir Rick slammed the door and looked around the room with the boy still tucked under his arm. For being stabbed and almost dying less than an hour ago, he acted and moved like he wasn’t even hurt at all. However, Hope did notice that his hand and his torso were wrapped with cloth bandages.