Page 32 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“I don’t know. Now, you’ll have to leave,” said Orrick, trying to push the man out the door.

“Why don’t you look into your gazing crystal and find out?” asked Noah, making Orrick want to strangle him for suggesting it. It was the last thing he’d ever do since he would never help Irwin. He just wanted the man to leave. Besides, Orrick didn’t need his crystal to find the Eternal Flame. He knew exactly where it was.

“Aye, look into your crystal,” Irwin urged him. “I’m willing to pay for the information.” He jingled a pouch at his side.

“Funny how one minute you are threatening me and the next you are asking me to do you a favor.”

“Threatening you? I never did that,” said Irwin, looking confused.

Orrick wanted to kick himself for his mistake. It was getting hard to remember which shape he was in. “You threatened Sir Rick and that is what I meant. We are close, so what you do to one of us, you do to the other.”

Noah started giggling from the bed, knowing Orrick’s secret. Orrick didn’t have time for any of this.

“Please leave, Sir Irwin, before I am forced to make you go.”

“Leave?” The man shook his head. “I am not going anywhere until you help me.”

“I’ll never help the likes of you.” With no more patience, Orrick held out his hands and lifted the man off his feet without touching him.

Irwin’s eyes popped open in surprise. He waved his arms around, trying to balance. Then Orrick dropped the man to the ground with a flick of his fingers.

“You’ll not get away with this,” snarled Irwin, turning and thankfully leaving the room. Orrick quickly shut the door behind him.

“Do that to me,” said Noah, jumping off the bed and holding out his arms. “I want to fly through the air, too.”

“Not now, Noah,” said Orrick, hurriedly shifting back into the form of Sir Rick. It took a toll on his body and made him quite tired. He might have never taken a nap before, but he could use one about right now.

“Turn back into your older self,” said the boy. “I like you better as the old Orrick.”

“Nay, not now. I have to get back to the garden where Lady Hope awaits me.” Orrick opened the door a crack and peeked out. When he was sure Irwin had left, he stepped out, making his way down the stairs. He headed out to the courtyard, feeling sick to his stomach. His body ached and he realized shifting back and forth was getting exhausting. As he approached the garden, Lady Hope jumped to her feet.

He smiled at her but she wasn’t smiling back at him for some reason. Perhaps he took too long and that made her angry.

“Hello, Lady Hope,” he said as he approached her.

“Hello, Orrick.”

He suddenly remembered he’d told her that he was bringing her back a present. He stuck his hand into his pocket, manifesting a necklace with a golden heart on it. He pulled it out of his pocket and opened his palm for her to see. “Here is your gift, as promised.”

“Oh,” she said, her eyes flashing up to his, and then back down to his hand. “It’s lovely.” Her words and actions were guarded. He wasn’t sure she liked the gift and she was doing nothing to take it from him.

“Go ahead. Take it,” he said. “Or did you want me to put it on for you? Here, let me put it around your neck.”

Instead of moving toward him, she slowly backed away. “I don’t think it would be appropriate.”

“It’s just a gift. It doesn’t mean I want to bed you.”

Her eyes opened wide and when she took a step forward, it wasn’t to hug or kiss him like he’d expected. Instead, he felt her hand hitting him across the face – but without the sting of skin on skin. He knew immediately something was wrong.

“You can tell Sir Rick that if he wants to give me a gift, not to send it with an old sorcerer.” With that, she stormed off, leaving him standing there alone.

“Sir Rick?” he said to himself, repeating her words. “Old sorcerer?” His hand flew to his face, feeling the long beard. “Bid the devil, not again!”

When he heard giggling, he spun around on his heel to see Noah hiding behind a bush, laughing at him.

“What’s so funny?” he growled, shoving the necklace back into his pocket and heading to the stable. It was time to make a visit to his secret place. At least there, he’d be able to think with a clear mind and not be distracted.

Once in the stable, Orrick quickly busied himself saddling a horse. Lord Corbett followed him in there.