Page 66 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“You hurt an innocent woman and kidnapped a little boy. You are despicable and I won’t let you get away with it,” warned Orrick.

“Neither will I,” said Corbett, stepping out into the light.

Irwin chuckled and shook his head. “I’m immortal now, or have you two forgotten? I’ll kill you both before you even know what happened and I’ll walk away unharmed.”

“Not without a fight you won’t.” Orrick’s sword slashed out only to meet with Lord Irwin’s. They sparred, and when Lord Corbett stepped in, Irwin fought them both. Even though they stabbed him several times, the man couldn’t be stopped. Something about being the Keeper of the Flame seemed to call out the darkness inside him, making him fight like a madman.

“Noah, get out of the cave,” shouted Corbett, looking over to the little boy. In that mere second, Irwin struck Corbett, stabbing his shoulder. Corbett’s blade fell to the ground and his body followed. Instead of leaving the cave, Noah disappeared into the shadows.

“Damn it,” spat Corbett. “Use your magic, Orrick. I think it’s time.”

“I agree.” Orrick threw down the sword, blasting energy from his hand, propelling Irwin backward. Anger blazed in Irwin’s eyes and he ran with his sword extended right at Orrick. Orrick pulled a potion from his bag, throwing it down in front of Irwin, causing a fog to fill the cave.

“I can’t see anything,” cried Irwin.

“Corbett, get out of here,” said Orrick in a low voice. “I’ll get the boy and the flame and join you in a minute.”

“Are you sure?” asked Corbett.

“Go,” commanded Orrick, making his way over to the flame before the smoke cleared. But before he could reach out and take it, Irwin called out to him.

“Don’t touch the flame or the boy dies, Sorcerer.”

The smoke cleared and to Orrick’s horror, he saw Irwin holding a dagger to Noah’s throat. He held the boy tightly up against him. Noah still clung to his wand, looking at Orrick with wide eyes. For a six year old, he didn’t even seem scared.

“Don’t hurt him,” said Orrick, holding his hands up in the air. His eyes darted to the torch and then back to them. If Noah’s life weren’t at stake, Orrick would grab the flame and then kill Irwin since the man would no longer be immortal. But he couldn’t risk it, because he didn’t want the boy harmed.

“Back away from the flame,” warned Irwin, dragging the boy toward the wall that held the torch. Orrick didn’t have a choice. He had to step away.

“You’re never going to get away with this,” Orrick told him.

“Oh, on the contrary, I think I will,” snapped Irwin.

“As soon as you step outside the cave, you’re going to be met with an angry army.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Irwin shimmied over to the torch. Holding his blade and the boy in one hand, he took the torch off the wall with the other. “You see, Orrick, through my travels, I discovered there is an exit at the other end of this cave that nobody knows about.”

Orrick knew it was true. It was a hidden exit that he’d only just discovered in the past few years from outside the cave. It was hard to see, and a narrow passage, but it opened up to a stable of horses from a neighboring lord on the other side. It would be easy for him to make his way through the cave and steal a horse and make his escape. It was a straight shot, and he’d make it through quickly. It would take longer for Lord Corbett and his men to ride around the cliff and, by then, he’d be gone.

“Then go,” said Orrick. “Take the flame, I don’t want it. Just leave the boy here, unharmed.”

“What kind of a fool do you take me for, Orrick?” Irwin headed through the passageway in the cracks that would lead him out the other side. “This boy is mine now,” Orrick heard him say as he disappeared with Noah.

“Nay!” cried Orrick, running after them, not having time to go out and tell Corbett what had transpired. Orrick was about to use his magic on Irwin again to stop him, but as he raised his hand, little Noah came walking toward him from between the rocks with his wand gripped tightly in his hand. Orrick looked up to see the torch lying on the ground, still burning, but he didn’t see Irwin anywhere.

“Noah,” he said, falling to his knees, pulling the boy to his chest. “Are you all right?”

“Aye, I’m fine,” said Noah, still playing with his wand.

“Where is Lord Irwin?” Orrick got up quickly, running over and picking up the torch. Immediately he felt the power of the Eternal Flame go through him. He was once again the Keeper of the Flame. “I cannot believe Irwin would drop the flame and leave,” said Orrick, holding the fire high, trying to see through the tight passageway.

“He didn’t leave,” said the boy.

“He didn’t?” Orrick turned around to look at Noah. “What do you mean?”

“I turned him into a toad with my magic wand.”

“Noah, I don’t have time for your stories,” said Orrick. “Now tell me –” Orrick stopped in midsentence as he heard the croak of a toad. He looked down at his feet to see the biggest toad he’d ever seen in his life. Could Noah have been telling the truth? Orrick suddenly wondered.