Page 49 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Nay,” she protested, looking up into her husband’s eyes. “He’s like a son to us, Corbett. He’s only a child. We have to find him.”

“I think I might know where he went,” said Orrick. “You two go back to the keep. I’ll find Noah and bring him home.”

“Are you sure I can’t come along with you?” asked Corbett.

“Nay. I’m the one who has been ignoring the boy lately, and probably to blame for his disappearance. Let me handle this. I promise you I’ll find him.”

“Thank you,” said Devon, as Corbett put his arm around her shoulders and led her out of the barn.

Orrick quickly saddled a horse, knowing the one place the boy could be hiding. But he didn’t like the idea of riding out to the cave at night and in the middle of the storm. He looked down to his burned and bleeding hand, tearing off part of his tunic to wrap it. Mayhap the real reason he felt a little uneasy was because now that he wasn’t the Keeper of the Flame anymore, he was no longer invincible or immortal. The idea should feel good since it was what he really wanted. But the thought of the boy being the new Keeper and Orrick not knowing what the power of the flame would do to him were the most frightening thoughts of all.

Chapter 15

Hope didn’t sleep at all that night. Instead, she stayed up reading all about the Eternal Flame. Sitting in bed, she closed the book, and looked over at the nighttime candle. She’d spent the last six hours reading the book and thinking about things and yet the candle hadn’t burned out or extinguished itself at all.

Her heart about stilled as she realized just what was happening here.

Grace yawned and stretched and sat up in bed. “Good morning,” she said, sounding cheery and well-rested. “How did you sleep last night?”

“I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I didn’t sleep and neither did I need to. I stayed up reading and re-reading this book on the Eternal Flame all night long. It’s fascinating.”

“You really should have slept, Sister. I feel so refreshed today.” Grace bounded out of bed and tore open the shutter. The faint rays of the early morning sun shone in. “It’s going to be a great day.” She walked around the bed. “Come on, Hope, get up. Mayhap we can sneak back into Orrick’s chamber today.”

“There’s no need for that,” said Hope, staring into the flame.

“Why not? Don’t you want to find the Eternal Flame?”

“Grace . . . blow out the candle.”

“Which candle? This one?” she asked, pointing to the one next to the bed. “Isn’t that the one you took from Orrick’s chamber?”

“Blow it out,” she said, barely able to breathe because she knew what was going to happen.

“All right.” Grace bent down and blew on the flame and it went out.

Hope was about to let out a relieved breath when all of a sudden the flame shot back up even higher than before. Grace jumped back and held her hands to her chest. “Oh my, what happened?”

“Try it again,” said Hope, feeling anxiety course through her.

“Nay, I’m not going to get burned. You do it.”

Hope leaned over and tried over and over again, but the candle could not be extinguished. “It’s as I thought. This is the Eternal Flame.”

“This is?” Grace frowned and looked down at the candle. “But the flame isn’t very big. I thought it would be more of a raging, powerful bonfire.”

“Believe me, this is it.” Hope put down the book and swung her feet over the side of the bed. “I’ve read all about it in this book. It says the Keeper of the Flame cannot be hurt and is immortal.”

“So what?” Grace yawned. “Does that mean something?”

“Grace, last night Lord Irwin came to the room while you were sleeping.”

“He did? What did he want?”

“He wanted me. To ravish me.”