Page 41 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Noah? You were?” asked Orrick.

“Yes, sir,” he said, pouting and kicking at the rushes.

“What were you doing in here?” asked Orrick.

“Just looking around.”

Orrick’s eyes flashed up to Corbett and then back down to the boy.

“It seems someone was in the stables and overheard our conversation yesterday,” Corbett told him.

“Our conversation?” Orrick’s brows dipped and he looked back at Corbett.

“About the Eternal Flame,” said Corbett in a low voice.

“Noah?” Orrick walked over and with two fingers, lifted the boy’s chin. “Were you spying on us in the stable?”

“It wasn’t my fault,” said the boy. “She was the one who wanted to do it.”

“She? Who is he talking about?” asked Orrick.

“Well,” said Corbett, clearing his throat. “It seems my ward has been naughty as well.”

“Hope?” Orrick’s head popped up. “What about her?” His heart thumped rapidly in his chest as he thought of just how naughty she’d been. He already knew she had overheard his conversation with Corbett. Not to mention, he had acted improperly as well. He only hoped that Corbett didn’t know what really happened.

“She was in the stable listening, too,” said Noah, eyeing the wand in Orrick’s hand. “Then she followed you to the cave. What is that in your hand?”

Orrick was happy to change the subject because he didn’t need Corbett asking about what happened after Hope followed him yesterday. If he did ask, Orrick wasn’t sure how to answer. “This?” asked Orrick, holding the wand up and turning it slowly as he studied it. “This is a powerful wand that I got from Merlin when I was just a boy.”

“Merlin? The magician?” asked Noah with interest. “I’ve heard of him.”

“He was far from a magician,” explained Orrick, looking at woodland animals carved into the spindle, running his finger along the smooth edges. “Merlin is one of the most famous and powerful sorcerers ever to live.”

“Is he dead?” asked Noah with wide, blue eyes.

“No one knows,” answered Orrick with a shrug of his shoulders. “He disappeared one day and no one has seen him since. Some say the sorceress Nimue trapped him in a cave or a tree or a different realm and that is where he still is today.”

“Tell me more,” said Noah, climbing up onto a stool. “I like it when you tell me stories.”

“No more stories for now,” said Corbett in a stern voice. “You have chores to do, Noah, and you have been neglecting them lately.”

“I don’t want to do chores,” complained the little boy. “Chores are for servants.”

“If you’re going to be a page someday, you have to start by doing chores,” said Corbett.

“I’m not going to be a page,” said Noah, staring at the Eternal Flame. The fire sparkled in his wide eyes. “I’m going to be a famous and powerful sorcerer, just like Merlin and Orrick.”

Orrick chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m all that famous, although I do have a few powers.”

“Show me some more magic,” begged Noah.

“Nay, not now,” answered Orrick.

“You never show me magic anymore,” complained Noah.

“I’m off to the practice yard,” explained Orrick.

“I like you better when you were old.” The boy pouted.