Page 34 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

Hope hid in the shadows of the stable, having entered in secret a few minutes ago with Noah. The boy had convinced her to go riding with him to find toads. He was so sweet. She, however, was so upset with Sir Rick that she thought getting away from the castle would be a good idea.

When they got to the stable, she’d heard the old sorcerer’s voice. He was talking with Lord Corbett. She hadn’t heard their whole conversation, but it was enough to know that Orrick was the Keeper of the Flame and he was riding out now to check on it.

“Noah, we’ll go riding to look for toads at the creek at another time,” she whispered. “Go on back to the keep now.”

“But I want to go with you,” he whispered back. “And why are we whispering?”

“Because I don’t want Orrick to know that I’m about to follow him.”

“I want to go see the flame, too.”

“Nay, it’s not for children. Now, go back to the keep and don’t breathe a word of this to anyone, do you hear me?”

“Can we look for toads when you return?”

“Sure, we can. Now go.”

She sent the boy off and waited until Lord Corbett left the stable, following Orrick, before she darted out to saddle a horse. This was the information she was looking for. By a lucky break, she would now find the flame, be able to give it to Irwin, and be released from her betrothal with the awful man. And when she laid eyes on Sir Rick again, she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of him and it wasn’t going to be good.

Chapter 10

Orrick rode out the gates of Blake Castle, stopping behind a tree to shift back into his young form. He needed to make sure he could still do it. Running his hand along his jaw, he once again felt soft skin instead of a wiry, old beard.

“Good,” he said, feeling very concerned as to why he couldn’t hold his shapeshifting form lately. He wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that he’d been Keeper of the Flame for way too long. Still dressed in Orrick’s cloak that covered his head, he sped off to the cave. Normally, he was very aware of his surroundings, but today he was distracted. As he rode, a scene from his past – his younger days – played out in his head.

“Orrick, what brings you here to the secret cave?” asked the sorcerer named Alwin. Orrick discovered that Alwin was Keeper of the Flame and also where to find him, having heard about him when he was a youth from his mentor, Merlin. But Orrick left Merlin and his mentoring to become a knight. He hadn’t liked some of the things he had to say. One of them being that Orrick would never be one of the Keepers of the Flame.

“I’m here for the Eternal Flame,” stated Orrick, ready to fight in whatever way he had to in order to get the flame. Orrick had just married the girl of his dreams, Lady Petronilla. He wanted to please her and give her everything in life that he could. He wanted to make her proud of him, and he wanted to rule with her and feel powerful. He’d heard the flame made one indestructible and also immortal. Orrick’s parentage was unknown, but he’d been knighted by the king for his skills with weapons. All he had to do now was to bring the flame home to Petronilla, and he would live forever, having even more power than even the king. He’d have a dozen children to follow in his footsteps, and he would treat his wife like a queen.

“Nay. You’re not one of the chosen,” said Alwin. “You cannot have it.”

“Well, I want to be one of the guardians of the flame. Now, let me have my turn.”

“It doesn’t work that way, Orrick.” Alwin walked over to a table where a candle burned brightly. Pulling out a chair, he sat down. Besides this, there was only one torch for light that burned behind him, stuck into the cave wall. “Didn’t Merlin explain to you what dangers are involved with the flame if one’s heart is not pure?”

“He didn’t tell me much, but it doesn’t matter. I know the flame will bring me immortality and that’s all I need to know.”

“True, it will do that,” agreed Alwin, putting his hands around the flame of the candle and gazing into it. “But things are not always as they seem. I will not hand the flame over. And you don’t understand the consequences if you should steal this flame from me.”

Orrick took two steps toward the table, but Alwin held up his hand, sending a bolt of light at Orrick. It hit him in the chest and knocked him to the floor.

“I’m a warrior and a knight of the king,” spat Orrick. “You cannot treat me with such disrespect.” He jumped to his feet and drew his sword, swiping at the man, nicking him on the hand. Alwin didn’t even flinch.

Orrick’s eyes fell to the trail of blood on the man’s hand that disappeared before it even hit the table. The light of the candle flickered mysteriously over the sorcerer’s body.

“Did you forget, Orrick? I’m invincible and indestructible since I am Keeper of the Flame,” Alwin reminded him. He chuckled lowly, irritating Orrick. “You cannot use a sword to kill someone who is immortal. As long as I am the Keeper, I cannot die.”

With each word from Alwin, Orrick felt a darkness inside of him coveting the flame even more. He had to have it! He needed to be invincible. Orrick wanted to hold the power that came with the Eternal Flame.

“Give it to me!” he spat, becoming very angry that it was being kept from him. The more the man told him he couldn’t have it, the more Orrick was determined to get it, no matter what the cost. “Hand it over, or I swear I will thrust my blade right through your heart, old man.”

Alwin chuckled again, and a shiver ran through Orrick. “Did you not hear a word I said? Go ahead and stab me. It will not matter. I am immortal and you are not. You cannot harm me.”

Something inside Orrick cracked and the darkness in his soul seeped through, taunting him, teasing him, and making him want the flame more than ever.

“I can’t help myself. I feel the overwhelming need to take that flame and kill you if I have to in order to get it,” explained Orrick.

“Ah,” said the man, getting to his feet and walking in front of the table. “It’s the power of the flame that calls to the darkness inside of you. Only the pure of heart can be Keepers. If someone with darkness in their soul should possess the flame, there is no telling what will happen.”