Page 50 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Oh, no! What happened?”

“He punched me in the mouth and then cut open the front of my night rail, making me bleed.”

“He did?”

“Look.” Hope showed her the torn cloth.

“So, he cut you? I don’t see a mark. And your mouth looks fine as well.”

“That’s what I mean.” Hope stood up and started dressing. “I saw the cut, I felt the pain. I even saw the blood. But then it was gone and it was as if I’d never been hurt at all.”

“You’re a fast healer.” Grace began to dress.

“Not that fast. Magic is involved here.”

“Do you mean it has something to do with that candle?”

“Look,” said Hope, walking over and sticking her hand into the flame and holding it there.

“Nay!” Grace’s eyes opened wide. “Hope, you’re going to get burned! Remove your hand at once.”

“It doesn’t hurt. I can’t even feel it at all.”

“Stop it!” Grace darted across the room and pulled Hope’s hand out of the fire.

“See?” said Hope, holding up her hand and turning it to show her sister. “There isn’t even a mark. I’m not burned.”

“How can that be?” asked Grace in amazement.

“I’m invincible and immortal, Sister. By stealing fire from Orrick’s room yesterday, I somehow took the Eternal Flame.”

“So . . . what does that mean?” Grace looked at her from the corners of her eyes.

“It means I no longer have to marry that despicable man, Lord Irwin.”

“You’re going to give him the flame then, like you promised to do if you found it?” Grace asked.

“Nay. Not at all.” Hope reached out and bathed her hand in the fire, liking the power that flowed through her. She felt like nothing could bother her now. She didn’t need to fear war, weapons, and especially not Lord Irwin, ever again.

“Then you mean to keep it for yourself.” A mischievous grin lit up Grace’s face.

“That’s exactly what I mean. I always wanted to be a witch, even though I knew I didn’t have magic. But now I have it and will be more powerful than even that old sorcerer, Orrick.”

“How exciting!” squealed Grace, jumping up and down. “What is the first thing you are going to do?”

“Let me think,” Hope said, tapping her finger against her chin.

“Are you going to tell Sir Rick?”

“Nay.” She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think he should know about it.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not sure,” she said, feeling threatened in a way just by hearing his name. “I get the feeling it would be a mistake. As a matter of fact, we can’t tell anyone about it. It’ll be our little secret. After all, now that I am invincible and will live forever, I can’t take the chance that anyone will want to steal that away from me.”

“But how will you stop Orrick from taking the flame back?” asked her sister.

“I’m going to have to fool him,” she said, devising a plan in her head. “I will have to put the flame somewhere he will never find it.”