Page 6 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Go,” said Orrick, shooing the boy away with his hand. He hurried across the great hall, stopping in front of Corbett.

“Orrick, I hear you’ve met my new ward.” Corbett grabbed a tankard of ale from the tray of a serving wench and handed it to him. “Have you met Lady Hope’s betrothed, Lord Irwin of Norfolk, as well?” Corbett nodded to a man that Orrick almost hadn’t seen standing there. Immediately, he didn’t like him. He wasn’t sure why the man made him so uneasy. Mayhap it was only because he was going to be marrying a girl that had taken Orrick’s interest.

“Nay, I don’t believe we’ve met,” said Orrick, studying the man’s face. Something about Lord Irwin’s shifty eyes and the way the man wouldn’t look directly at him made Orrick uncomfortable.

“Lord Irwin will be staying with us for awhile and I was hoping you could show him around the castle later,” said Corbett.

“Me?” Orrick didn’t like this idea at all. “I’m afraid that will be impossible, my lord. I am setting out on a journey so someone else will have to do it.”

“You are?” Corbett seemed surprised. “Why wasn’t I notified about this?”

“My lord, might I talk with you in private?” asked Orrick.

“I think I’ll head out to the courtyard to escort the ladies back inside,” said Irwin, taking the hint to leave. Once he was gone, Corbett turned back to face Orrick.

“What is this all about?” asked Corbett. “You didn’t say anything about leaving. Where are you going?”

“Nowhere actually.”

Corbett took another drink of ale, surmising Orrick over the rim. “You’ve got the look on your face again.”

“What look is that, my lord?”

“The one that tells me we need to talk. Follow me to my solar where we can speak in private.”

Once in the lord’s solar, Corbett shut the door behind him. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited. “Go ahead, Orrick. You’ve got something up your sleeve and I have a feeling I am not going to like it.”

“Aye, you’re right as always,” answered Orrick. Thoughts ran rampant through his head. He had a plan but was hesitant to use it. Still, he felt it necessary.

“Have a seat,” said Corbett, sitting down on a chair and waiting for Orrick to sit as well.

“I think I’d rather stand, my lord.” He started pacing back and forth.

“Orrick, I’ve known you ever since I was a child.” Corbett leaned back on two legs of the chair, stretching out his long legs and resting his feet up on his bed. He folded his arms over his chest. “The last time I saw you so anxious was when you gave me the amulet to give to the baroness. Right before you disappeared. Do you remember?”

“How could I forget?” he mumbled. “But this is different, my lord. It has to do with the girl.”

“Lady Hope? What about her?” Corbett stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

“She approached me looking for something.”

“What did she want? An herbal potion perhaps?”

“Nay, my lord. She was looking for . . . the Eternal Flame.”

“What?” Corbett made a face and yawned again. “So she wanted a candle? Whatever for?”

“Nay, not a candle.” Orrick paced back and forth.

“Stop that obnoxious pacing before you wear out the rushes,” Corbett told him. “Now, are you going to tell me what this is all about or am I going to have to command you to spit it out?”

“I think you just did give me the command.” Orrick stopped his pacing and faced Corbett. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” he said.

“That’s right. Ever since I was a child. We’ve already established that fact, I believe.”

“Aye. Of course. But you really don’t know much about me, do you?” asked Orrick.

“I know enough to see that something is troubling you. Does it have to do with this Infernal Flame the girl is searching for?”