Keeper of the Flame: Second in Command Series - Orrick

by Rose, Elizabeth

  “Oh, you mean he had an erection,” said her sister with a nod. “How big was it?” She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

  “Grace! I’ve never seen you act this way before. What’s gotten into you?”

  “The stable boy. Not to mention that handsome new falconer our father hired. The falconer’s was much bigger than the stable boy’s and he really knew how to use it.”

  Hope’s mouth dropped open and she didn’t know what to say. Then her sister pulled the ribbons out of her hair, letting it fall loose around her shoulders. She unbuttoned several buttons on her bodice to show off cleavage that Hope hadn’t even known she had.

  “Sister, you are naught but a trollop!” Hope gasped in shock. “When did this happen?”

  Her sister’s eyes lit up with mischief. And when she picked up her skirts to fix her shoe, Hope noticed she didn’t wear hose. Instead her legs were bare.

  “Oh, Sister, it’s nothing new,” said Grace as if it didn’t bother her at all not to have morals. “I had a little tryst with the stable boy when I’d just turned sixteen. And the falconer and I have only kissed in the hay mayhap a half-dozen times at most.”

  “You’re a whore!” Hope’s hand slapped against her chest. She never would have suspected it from her meek, soft-spoken, proper sister.

  “I’m not a whore and you need to stop calling me that!”

  “But you just told me you coupled with two different men in the past year.”

  “I never said that!”

  “Aye, you did. You said the falconer’s was bigger than the stable boy’s and he really knew how to use it.”

  “Their tongues! I was talking about their tongues,” said Grace. “What did you think I meant?”

  “Oh, I see,” said Hope, feeling embarrassed now that she’d accused her sister of being such a strumpet.

  “Hope, I assure you that I am just as much a virgin as you are.” Grace’s eyes lit up with mischief again. “Although, I might have come a little closer to making love than you have.”

  They both laughed at the misunderstanding. And just when Hope had convinced herself that her sister was still somewhat meek and innocent, Grace fanned her hair out with her hands and then brushed a few specks of dust off her chest. “Do you want to sneak out of here and go find a tavern?” asked Grace. “I could go for a big horn of whisky about now.”

  “You drink whisky, too?” gasped Hope. “Does Father know about all this?”

  “Of course not, and he’s not going to find out either. Father never paid me any attention since he had sons to take his interest. You should know that since he ignores you, too. Ever since Mother died, we’ve been bounced around from castle to castle. He hasn’t even taken enough interest in us to betroth us, until now.”

  “That’s not true, Grace.”

  “Isn’t it?” she asked, raising her brows.

  Hope couldn’t dispute it because she realized it was true. Then again, Hope and Grace hadn’t exactly wanted to get married so it hadn’t mattered. But now, Hope was getting older and she’d been thinking a lot lately about marrying a man and raising a family. However, Sir Irwin wasn’t who she had in mind.

  “Well, I’ve decided I’m not going to be betrothed to someone like that old crust Lord Irwin,” sniffed Grace. “I’m going to live life to the fullest and experience what I want – even if it’s being in the arms of a man that takes my interest even though he’s not yet my husband.”

  “In his arms? You mean his bed, don’t you?”

  “Would it be so awful if it really happened?” asked Grace, pinching her cheeks for color, leaning forward to peer into the standing mirror. The room was dark with only the light from the hearth and a nighttime candle next to the bed making the room glow slightly.

  “Little sister, if I must remind you, we are ladies and must be virgins on our wedding nights. It is expected of nobles.”

  “Oh, I will be a virgin, but a very experienced one by the time I marry.”

  “Stop it, Grace.”

  “Why?” she asked. “You cannot tell me you like being sent from one castle to another and rejected by each and every man that might be a prospective husband because Father hadn’t betrothed us. We need to take matters into our own hands or someone else will do it for us and I don’t like that.”

  “He has betrothed me, unless you’ve forgotten. But I’d rather marry a man of my own choosing. If the prospective husbands have any idea of how you behave, Grace, then it’s no wonder they reject you.”

  “I don’t care.” She opened a pouch with a little jar and dabbed some of the liquid between her breasts. “Besides, I don’t see any of them beating down the door asking for your hand in marriage.”

  “It’s because I’m already betrothed,” said Hope, getting frustrated with this conversation.

  “Whatever, you say.” Grace leaned forward to see herself in the mirror, dabbing something on herself again.

  “What is that?” asked Hope, walking over and snatching the little bottle away from her sister. Bringing it to her nose, she took a whiff. “Mmmm. It smells like sweet wildflowers.”

  “It is an oil I swiped from the healer before we left Norfolk. I put a dab of it between my breasts and it makes the men drool.” She giggled.

  Hope let out a deep breath, not able to stop thinking of Sir Rick. “Do men really like this?” she asked, inspecting the bottle.

  “Try it and find out for yourself.” Grace retrieved the bottle and poured out a drop of oil, reaching out and dabbing it on Hope’s wrist. “So, you never did tell me. Did you like his kiss or not?”

  “Whose kiss?”

  Grace threw her a look that said to stop it.

  “Oh, you mean Sir Rick?”

  “Is there another?”

  “Nay, there’s not.” Hope wet her lips, trying to deny her attraction to the man, but she couldn’t. “I did like the kiss,” she admitted, smiling wickedly, feeling so wanton. She lifted her wrist and brought it to her nose, sniffing the tantalizing potion that made her head spin. “When Lord Irwin kisses me, I want to retch. But when Sir Rick kissed me I . . . I . . . tingled.”

  “Tingled?” Grace’s head snapped up and she leaned in closer. “Where?” she asked in a half-whisper, as if she were afraid someone would hear them. “Was it up your spine . . . or between your legs?”

  “Stop it,” said Hope, putting the bottle of flower oil down on the dressing table and wiping her hands off in her gown. “I don’t care to speak of this anymore. I am here for a reason and I need to focus.”

  “Oh, yes, I forgot.” Grace inspected her hand and bit at a hangnail. “You still believe in the silly superstition that there is some candle that can make someone invincible.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s a candle, but it is some kind of flame. It’s called the Infernal – no wait – I think Orrick said it was called the Eternal Flame.”

  “Even if there is such a thing, what do you want it for?” asked Grace nonchalantly as she continued to fuss with her hair. Hope had never noticed before how important appearances were to her sister.

  “It is also said to keep one from aging,” Hope told her, testing the waters.

  “What? I can stay young and beautiful forever?” asked Grace.

  Sure enough, the girl took the bait. Hope knew now that Grace cared about her looks more than anything and would help her if she thought she might be able to use the flame for herself.

  “I’m not sure how it works but, aye, those are the legends I’ve heard.”

  “I thought you told me Lord Irwin wants to find that torch.”

  “He does,” she explained, starting to pace again. “Rumor has it that it can be found somewhere here near Blake Castle. Lord Irwin knows I am revolted by the idea of marrying him. The only way I can get out of the betrothal is if he tells Father he doesn’t want to marry me after all. But he won’t do that unless I help him find the Eternal Flame because he wants it for himself.”

  “I don’t think ei
ther of those things are going to happen, Sister. The Eternal Flame is naught but a myth just like I told you. And the reason no other man has ever wanted you was because they always thought you were a witch.”

  “Shhh.” Hope put her finger to her lips. “Don’t let anyone hear you. The occupants of Blake Castle hopefully haven’t heard the gossip and I’d like to keep it that way for now.”

  “It’s not gossip, Hope. It’s the truth. You are a witch. I’ve seen you make up potions and even recite spells when you didn’t think I was looking or listening.”

  Hope let out a sigh. “You’re right. I have dabbled in things like that, but I honestly really don’t know what I’m doing. You didn’t tell Father, did you?” she asked nervously.

  “Nay, because I knew someday you’d find out what I like to do in secret and I didn’t want you to tell Father about that either.” She flashed a smile.

  “Well, like you said, Father barely knows we even exist since we have three brothers to take his interest.”

  “There you go.” Grace threw her hands up in the air. “Now, are you coming with me to town to find a tavern or am I going by myself?”

  Hope put her hands on her hips and glared at her sister. It was time to get strict with her. Now she started wondering how long Grace had been pretending to be that shy, innocent girl that most people thought her to be.

  “Neither,” Hope told her. “Now button up your gown and put your hose back on. We’re going down to the kitchen to see if anyone knows anything about Sir Rick.”

  “Will there be men down there?” asked Grace with interest.

  “None that you will be looking at. I’ll make certain of that.”

  “I could teach you a few things about how to enjoy men, Sister.” Grace waggled her eyebrows. “With a little guidance, you might even have that Sir Rick eating out of your hand. So, tell me. Is he handsome?”

  “That is none of your concern. And on second thought, we’ll just go to bed now and ask questions about Sir Rick tomorrow. I think the night is all too tempting for you.” Hope walked over and barred the door.

  “Why don’t you just make up a potion or recite a spell to find the flame?” asked Grace.

  “I can’t,” she said with a sigh. “I haven’t a mentor to guide me. I know only what I’ve read about in books or heard from gossip. I told you I only dabble in these things and I don’t know enough to bring about the results.”

  “Then get the sorcerer’s relative to tell you how to do it.”

  “Sir Rick?” She pondered the idea. “Nay. I don’t think he even knows a thing about magic or spells.”

  “But if Orrick is related to him, then mayhap he has powers as well.”

  “I suppose it could be so. I never thought of that.”

  “If you don’t want to ask him if he has magic, then ask him to take you into the sorcerer’s tower instead. There, you can look around and mayhap find something that will help you.”

  “That’s a thought,” she said, holding her finger to her lip. “Tomorrow, I will use Sir Rick to get into Orrick’s chamber. I saw some interesting things in there that I’d like to explore further. Who knows? Mayhap I’ll even find this Eternal Flame. Aye, I’ll look around or mayhap steal a key to get back into the room when no one is looking.”

  “I like the way you think,” said Grace with a smile. “Mayhap I can help you.”

  “Nay,” she said quickly, envisioning her sister trying to seduce the knight. “You stay away from Sir Rick.”

  “That’s not what I mean – although I haven’t even seen the man. If he is as handsome as you say, I might change my mind. But for now, all I mean to do is act as a lookout. I’ll get in and out quickly and steal the key. Then we can sneak back to the tower room together.”

  “You’d do this to help me?” asked Hope.

  “Sure. Why not?” Grace pulled down her bodice and plumped up her breasts. “After all, I might find a love spell or something that I can use on a man if I need to.”

  “I don’t think you’re the one who needs the love spell,” said Hope, wondering how she was going to convince Sir Rick she liked him after she’d stomped on his toe and slapped him across the face.

  Chapter 4

  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 th
e 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.

  “That’s a good boy.” It was easier each time Orrick did it. As he practiced his skill of shapeshifting, he was able to do it faster this time. He felt his body conforming and his skin tightening as he made the shift. His muscles bulged out and his chest got wider. His bones even seemed to stretch, making him taller when he stood up straight.

  “It’s done,” said Orrick in a soft voice, glancing over his shoulder into the mirror just to make sure. Sure enough, his young, virile, handsome self was back with his dark hair and toned body. Gone were his long, white beard and wrinkles. The only things he couldn’t shed were his worries.

  “Orrick, you’re back?” Hope rushed into the room with another woman right behind her. But when Orrick stood up and turned around, her smile quickly faded away. “Oh, it’s you,” she said.

  “We heard a young boy screaming,” said the other woman. “Is everyone all right?”

  “That was just Noah,” said Orrick, clearing his throat and using his deeper voice now. “The boy frightens easily but he is fine now.”

  “What frightened him?” asked Hope.

  Orrick looked down to Noah, shaking his head ever so slightly, warning the boy to keep the secret to himself.

  “I’m Noah. Who are you two?” The boy rushed over to meet the women, and Orrick let out the breath he had been holding.