Page 56 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“You’re right. However, I’ve always had a curious nature. Through the archbishop, I heard the story of the Eternal Flame and it intrigued me. So I made it my mission to find it.”

“Whatever for?”

Hope didn’t know how to answer Orrick. Or even if she should. But if she didn’t, he might become suspicious. She had a secret to keep and didn’t want him asking questions, so she figured she’d end the conversation quickly. “I was just always a curious girl. I suppose that is why it always ended up getting me in trouble. Just like Noah. He’s curious, too. And he keeps saying he wants to be a sorcerer.”

“He’s trouble all right. As I already told you, he stole the Eternal Flame from me and I need to find him and get it returned.”

Hope’s heart about stopped. She now knew with certainty that he had no idea that she had it. Noah must have kept his promise by not divulging their little secret. “What makes you think he has it?” she asked nonchalantly. “Mayhap it’s not gone at all.”

“I think I’d know if it were gone or not.” He held up his hurt hand again to make his point. “I need to find him because he has no idea what danger he’s in.”

“I’m sure it can’t be all that bad,” she said, hoping it were true.

“It can and it is. There are certain people chosen to be the Keeper of the Flame. It is meant to be held only for fifty years and then passed on to the new Keeper. Always, the Keeper is one with magic and is supposed to be pure of heart.”

“So a mortal shouldn’t hold the flame?” she asked.

“Nay, not at all.”

“And what if they do?” She stood up and placed the basket on the far table, turning her back toward him.

“It’s dangerous because a mortal, especially a young one like Noah who is not very strong, can be influenced by the flame.”

“How so?”

“It’s meant to be a tool to help those with magic who are able to control it. They use it to help others. But a mortal doesn’t have the ability to ward off the darkness.”

“What darkness?” she asked.

“The flame brings out the darkness in people if they are not strong enough to turn it into light. For instance, when we were in the cave together.”

“When we made love?” She smiled, looking over her shoulder at him.

“Aye. I was never meant to be the true Keeper of the Flame. When I stole the flame, my intentions were far from admirable. I was greedy and only wanted the power for myself. When I saw what the flame was doing to me, I decided to lock it away in the cave, and that helped. But when I was in its presence again, it called to the lust in my heart after not having a woman for a hundred years.”

“I suppose that would be hard to control,” she said with a slight giggle, turning and walking toward him. “But don’t be too hard on yourself. I was drawn to the lust as well.” Something inside her drew her to Orrick like a moth to a flame – just like the Eternal Flame had called out to her. Before she could stop herself, she bent over and kissed him on the lips.

“What are you doing, Hope?”

“Didn’t you like that?”

“Of course, I did. But you need to remember you are betrothed to another.”

“I’m not marrying Lord Irwin,” she told him, no longer being worried about it since she had the Eternal Flame.

“But I thought you said you had to marry him and he wouldn’t call off the wedding unless you found and handed over the Eternal Flame to him.”

“I decided I’m not afraid of him anymore. He’s not all that frightening after all.”

“Especially in the condition he was in,” chuckled Orrick. “It looked to me like someone beat him up pretty bad.”

“It was only a tap on the cheek and a bite to the arm, and not that bad at all,” she told him.

“How did you know?” asked Orrick, making her realize she’d said too much.

“I saw him. Earlier today.”

“Oh. You must rise pretty early in the morning.”