Page 68 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“I know that,” said Orrick, pacing the floor like a caged wildcat. He was still in the shapeshifting form of Sir Rick, but now everyone in the castle knew the truth, so she could call him Orrick in front of them. “I cannot marry you unless I’m mortal. I love you, Hope, but it’s not fair to either of us.”

“I don’t care if I grow old and you don’t, if that is what you’re worried about.”

“That’s not it.”

“All right,” she said. “Well, I know as Keeper of the Flame you’ll never be able to father children. I’m all right with that, too, as long as we’re together.”

“Sweetheart,” he said, stopping and taking her hands in his. “You don’t understand. I can change my appearance to grow old with you, that’s not the problem. The part that I cannot live through again is seeing someone I love suffer and die when I feel no physical pain and will continue to live forever. My pain is in here,” he said, touching his head. “And here,” he added, thumping his hand over his heart.

“I’m sorry,” she said, letting out a sigh. “I suppose I’m being selfish and not thinking how hard this is for you.”

“Immortality, I’ve discovered, is naught but a curse.”

“Then mayhap you and I can trade off as being the Keeper of the Flame. I don’t mind, if it will give us more time together.”

“Nay. I would never allow that,” he told her, dropping her hands. “You have no magic. You would suffer, and I don’t even know what would happen to you since the Eternal Flame is not meant for one without magic.”

“Then let me be Keeper,” said little Noah, sitting up in the bed, having overheard their entire conversation. “I have magic,” he said.

“Nay, Noah. You are too young,” Orrick told him. “The Keeper has to be at least ten years of age and you are only six. Besides, the flame needs to be returned to the person who was chosen for it.”

“Is there a way to find out who that is?” asked Hope.

“I’m afraid not.” Orrick hung his head. “I made a bad mistake years ago and the last Keeper died before he could tell me the names of the others.”

“Use your gazing crystal,” said Noah excitedly, jumping off the bed. “Look inside and see those names. Do it, do it!”

“Orrick?” asked Hope, looking over to him curiously. “Do you think that would work?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably not.”

“Just try it,” begged the boy.

“Please?” asked Hope, taking hold of his arm. “What can it hurt?”

Orrick released a deep breath. “Fine,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “I have no other idea, so why not?” Walking over to the shelf, he retrieved his gazing crystal and set it in the center of the table. He sat down and so did Hope. Noah was too excited to sit, and stood right next to Orrick.

“Put your hands on it,” urged Noah.

“Settle down,” Orrick told the boy, putting his hands on the crystal. “These things take time. Now, I need silence in order to try to see the names that are only found on another realm in the Akashic Records.”

Orrick concentrated on the crystal, seeing it cloud over.

“Something’s happening,” whispered the boy.

“What?” whispered Hope. “I can’t see anything in the orb.”

“Only those with magic are able to scry,” Orrick told her.

He continued for a few minutes, thinking about the book of records, hoping he’d be able to conjure up the pages and see the names of the future Keepers. After a little while, it almost seemed to him as if the outline of a book was appearing.

“I see a book,” whispered Noah.

“Aye. I see it, too,” said Orrick.

“Do you think it’s what we’re looking for?” asked Hope anxiously.

“I’m not sure,” said Orrick, feeling frustrated. “I can see the outline of the book, but it’s too foggy to read the names on the page.”