Page 35 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“I don’t have darkness in me! Now step away or I swear I will kill you.”

“Really?” The man laughed. “Just your words tell me the reason why you were not chosen to be one of the Keepers.”

“You sound as if you know the future. Well, you don’t, because my name, I assure you, is on that list.”

Sadly, the sorcerer shook his head. “Nay, Orrick, it is not. Each Keeper has a record of names of the future Keepers for all of time.”

“That’s not possible! If the flame is passed on to the next guardian every fifty years, then the future Keepers are not even born yet.”

“That’s right,” said the man with a smile. “The names are embedded on a thread of the Akashic Records on a different realm. It’s like a book on another plane that can only be read by one who is pure of heart who also holds the power of magic within him.”

“I don’t care. It’s time to change that record. I swear I will be the next Keeper of the Flame, no matter what I have to do to get it.”

“Go ahead and try,” the man taunted him, holding out his arms to his sides. “Strike me down dead with your blade if you think you can do it.”

Anger welled inside Orrick. He felt so much rage that he didn’t understand it. It frightened him as it took control. He couldn’t stop himself now if he tried. The sorcerer had dropped the gauntlet before him and Orrick had to pick it up.

“Aaaaaah,” screamed Orrick, rushing at the man and thrusting his sword into Alwin’s heart. Blood spurted out and Orrick heard the sickening sound of metal being pushed into flesh. Alwin doubled over, falling into Orrick. There was no way this man wasn’t dead. Orrick had spent the last ten years fighting for the king and he was one of the ruler’s best warriors. No man walked away from Orrick on the battlefield, and this would prove to be no different.

Or so he thought.

Alwin gripped the blade, pulling it from his chest and throwing it to the ground. “You really shouldn’t have done that, Orrick. The darkness is taking control of you. If you don’t fight it, it will consume you.”

Orrick watched in astonishment as the gaping hole in Alwin’s chest quickly closed up, and the blood disappeared.

“You truly are immortal,” whispered Orrick, wanting the flame now more than ever. His eyes flashed over to the candle and then back to the sorcerer. If Orrick were immortal, no man could touch him or even hurt him. Orrick would be the mightiest of warriors, and mayhap someday, even king. He’d rule with Petronilla as his queen, and they’d have many, many children.

“It doesn’t work that way,” said the man, reading his mind. “The Keeper of the Flame is immortal, but also unable to sire children.”

“That’s nonsense. I don’t believe a word you say.”

“It’s true. It is a precaution.”

“Precaution? That makes no sense.”

“It does, Orrick. You see, in order to keep the flame safe, the guardian cannot be distracted. Having a wife and children would only make the Keeper careless.”

“Nay! I can have a wife and many children and still be a mighty warrior and also the next Keeper.”

“I wish that were so, but it’s not. And that is why each Keeper chosen is supposed to be a child. He or she will be pure of heart, but cannot be Keeper until they turn ten. Then, and only then, will they be mature enough to realize the responsibilities that go along with the position. So, you see, Orrick, you are much too old to be the Keeper anyway, even though my time is nearly up. I will be passing the flame to the next Keeper soon.”

“The only one you’ll pass it to is me.” Orrick lifted his hand, using his magic. Alwin’s body rose into the air, his feet dangling beneath him.

“I can’t let you take it,” said Alwin. “My job is to protect it, and I will.”

Alwin used his magic next, as part of the cave fell on Orrick’s head, releasing a rock, and almost knocking him out.

With their magic, the two of them fought each other, but Orrick could see this wasn’t going to work. He needed an advantage if he were going to win a fight with an immortal man. Slowly, he worked his way over to the table, and with one mighty blast, he sent Alwin stumbling backward. At the same time, Orrick dove for the candle, gripping it in one hand and his dagger in the other.

“Nay!” shouted Alwin, getting to his feet with his hands out in front of him. “Orrick, don’t do this. It’s not for you.”

“It is for me, and there is naught you can do now to stop me.” Darkness clouded Orrick’s brain, totally controlling him now. The greed inside him was unbearable. And though a sliver of light deep inside told him he was doing wrong, he was powerless to stop it. Like watching in slow motion from up above, he saw himself fling the dagger across the room at Alwin. The dagger lodged into the man’s heart, taking him to the ground. He fell in a heap on the floor. To Orrick’s surprise, even though he had stolen the flame, Alwin was staring at him like he wasn’t hurt at all.

Orrick looked at the candle and then spotted the flame from the torch, realizing his mistake. He dropped the candle and ran for the torch, warding off a magical blow from Alwin as he did so.

Ripping the torch from the wall, Orrick’s fingers closed around the wood, and he immediately felt the power of the flame flow through him.

“You tricked me into believing the candle held the flame,” said Orrick.