Page 43 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

Hope’s eyes flashed down at the boy who was playing with the stick and then back up to her fool of a sister.

“Grace, that’s not a good idea,” Hope told her. “He’s sure to tell Orrick we were there.”

“It was his idea,” said Grace in a low voice. “It seems he sneaks in there to play with the magical items all the time. He also said he knows when Orrick or Sir Rick are there, and right now they’re not.”

“Really.” She glanced out to the practice field again. She noticed Sir Rick look over so she smiled and waggled her fingers at him. He did the same back, but the distraction gave Lord Irwin the advantage. He knocked Sir Rick’s sword out of his hand and was declared the winner of the round. But it was only round one and there would be another round next between the men since it was the best out of three.

“Uh oh,” she said, turning around quickly. “Mayhap we should go since I seem to be a distraction.”

“Come on,” said Grace, leading the way, plowing a path through the crowd. They made their way across the courtyard and into the keep, sneaking off toward the tower room. Since most of the people were at the practice yard watching the knights, it was easy to go unnoticed.

“How can you be sure Orrick isn’t in the tower?” Hope asked the boy when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Because, he was in the practice yard. Didn’t you see him?”

“Nay. I didn’t see him. Did you, Grace?”

“I only saw Sir Rick,” said her sister.

“Mayhap we should wait until we’re sure.” Hope was about to turn around and leave when the boy bolted up the stairs.

“I’m sure. Come on,” he said, leading the way.

Hope and Grace followed him up the stairs, stopping in front of the thick, oaken door.

“Go on, Grace,” said Hope, looking back over her shoulder down the stairs as she spoke. “Use the key to open the door.”

Grace dug down into her cleavage and pulled out the key and placed it in the lock. She tried to turn it but it wouldn’t budge.

“Orrick knew we stole the key, so he must have put a spell on the door to keep us from entering,” said Hope with a sigh. Grace tried the key again and Noah played with the stick, waving it around in the air.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll have to think of another plan,” said Hope sadly. “Take the key, Grace, so he doesn’t know we were here, and let’s go.”

“I wish it would have worked,” complained Grace. “I really wanted to get inside and look around.” She pulled the key out of the lock and dropped it back down her bodice. The women turned and started down the winding staircase. But they stopped in their tracks when they heard the creak of the old door from behind them.

Hope’s heart fluttered as she slowly turned around, sure she would see an angry Orrick standing in the doorway. Instead, all she saw was little Noah, holding that stick in one hand as he pushed open the door with the other.

Hope’s eyes flashed over to Grace and they exchanged a surprised look.

“How did he do that?” asked Hope in a low voice.

“Who cares?” answered Grace with a mischievous smile. “Let’s go see what we can find.” Lifting her skirts, she ran up the stairs with Hope right on her heels.

“It’s so . . . scary in here,” said Grace, stopping in the doorway, almost as if she didn’t want to enter. A fire burned in the hearth, throwing shadows on things in the room, almost making them seem alive.

“Nay, it’s not.” Noah went inside, running over and hopping up atop the bed. “Come on in, it’s fun.”

“What’s the matter, Grace? Changing your mind?” asked Hope. It wasn’t like her sister to be frightened. Especially since this whole thing was her idea in the first place.

“I – I don’t know. I feel a tingle up my spine and it’s like something is telling me I shouldn’t enter.”

Hope rolled her eyes. “Then stay here and be our guard. Warn us if you hear anyone coming.”

“I can do that,” said Grace, seeming relieved not to have to enter the chamber.

Hope went inside and closed the door all but a crack, not wanting anyone below stairs to see light coming from the room from the blazing fire on the hearth. She stopped and looked around at the shadows dancing on the walls. It was a little eerie. The window was open partially, but the sun was no longer shining through it. Looking up, she could see dark clouds through the window, and the air smelled like rain. There was a storm approaching. She’d have to move quickly before the men came in from the practice yard.

“Noah, can you help me?” she asked in a loud whisper.