Page 13 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

Orrick opened one sleepy eye, almost jumping when he saw the face of Noah staring at him. He groaned and turned over in bed, burying his face in the pillow. He’d had one of the worst night’s sleep in his life.

“Noah, go away, I’m trying to sleep,” he muttered into the pillow.

“How did you know it was me?” asked the boy, making no sense at all.

“Who else sneaks up to my tower room every morning, managing to get in through a locked door to wake me up before the sun even rises?” Orrick always wondered if the boy was just good at breaking into rooms or if he perhaps always forgot to lock the door. Either way, the child was a pest.

“How did you know that?” asked Noah. “And what are you doing in Orrick’s bed?”

“Where else would I be sleeping?” mumbled Orrick, not even realizing what was going on.

“Where is Orrick?”

With the boy’s question, all fog left Orrick’s head and he realized his mistake. As he sprang up to the sitting position, his eyes shot over to the standing mirror. He could only hope this was all naught but a dream. But staring back at him wasn’t the old man with wrinkles with the long, white beard that he expected to see. That’s when he remembered he’d foolishly shapeshifted into his younger self yesterday and then Hope had seen him. He’d had to stay in this shapeshifting form and went to bed with his clothes on. “God’s eyes,” he cursed getting out of bed, towering over the boy. Noah’s eyes opened wide and he took a step backward.

“Please don’t hurt me,” he cried.

“Hurt you? Bid the devil, Noah, why would I ever do that?”

“Because you killed Orrick and stole his clothes, his bed and his belongings.”

“I did not.” Orrick’s hands went to his waist to find he still wore the long tunic and cloak he’d always worn in his old man form. Sure enough, he had the pouch of herbs tied to his waist and wore the crystal on a chain around his neck, too. “Oh,” he said, fingering the crystal, wondering how to explain this all to the boy. “I assure you, I did not harm Orrick in any way.”

“Then where is he?” asked the boy again. When Orrick saw the tears in the young boy’s eyes, he knew he had to tell him the truth. It was risky, especially since Noah was only a child who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. But if he lied to a child, especially one who idolized him, he’d never be able to live with himself. He wanted to show Noah who he was, but didn’t want to scare him.

“Close your eyes, Noah,” he said, having a plan. If he could shapeshift back into his old man image, then the boy would see what he said was the truth.

“Nay! I’m not going to close my eyes. You’re going to hurt me like you did to Orrick.”

“I told you, I didn’t hurt Orrick.”

“Then where is he?” Tears dripped down Noah’s cheeks.

Orrick let out a deep sigh. “I’ll show you, but you have to promise to keep it a secret and not to tell anyone, all right?”

The boy sniffled, wiped his nose in his sleeve and nodded without saying a word.

Orrick let out a sigh and turned around as he shapeshifted so he wouldn’t frighten the boy. However, he forgot about the standing mirror. As he shapeshifted he saw the boy’s eyes widen in fear as their gazes met in the reflection of the mirror.

Noah screamed and started to run for the door, but Orrick caught him and kept him from leaving.

“Let go of me. Leave me be!”

“Noah, calm down. You’re safe with me,” he said, using his higher, old, crackly voice to make the child feel more comfortable.

“Orrick?” The boy stopped struggling and looked up over his shoulder. “Is that really you?”

“Of course it is.”

“I heard a boy scream in the tower,” came Hope’s voice from the bottom of the spiral staircase.

“Damn,” mumbled Orrick as he heard two people starting to ascend the stairs. He should have made sure the door was closed after the boy entered. “Noah, I have to change back now and you can’t tell anyone who I really am. All right?”

“Nay. Don’t shapeshift again, Orrick. It scares me.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” said Orrick, taking the boy’s hands in his. He only had another minute before Hope entered the room so he needed to act quickly. “Look me in the eyes,” he told the boy, hunkering down to make it easier for Noah to see him. “You don’t ever need to fear me. I promise I’ll never hurt you. Now, you’ll always know it’s me if you look deep into my eyes. Look into my eyes now as I shapeshift and you’ll see what I mean.”

“All right,” agreed the boy reluctantly, staring into Orrick’s eyes.