“I promised a lass I would bring her eggs,” he said. “There is not much tae it.”
“What lass?”
“Her name is Isadora.”
Nikolaus had been expecting more of an answer and lifted his eyebrows when he realized Cam had nothing more to say.
“And?” he prompted him. “Who is she?”
“I dunna know.”
Nikolaus was becoming frustrated. “Start from the beginning,” he said. “Where did ye meet her? Why did ye promise her eggs?”
Cam would have become annoyed if he wasn’t feeling so giddy at the prospect of seeing Isadora again. He just wanted to get out of there, so he endeavored to placate his nosy grandfather.
“I met her years ago in the Vale of Demons,” he said. “I was out hunting birds’ eggs for ye and she and her friends caught up tae me.”
Nikolaus’ eyes narrowed suspiciously. “The demons caught ye?”
“Aye.”
“How long ago was this, lad? Why dinna ye tell me?”
Cam shrugged. “It was several years ago and I dinna tell ye because I dinna want tae be punished for crossing the vale in the first place,” he said. “Ye warned me about it and I dinna listen.”
“I’m not surprised. Ye’re a stubborn wretch of a lad.”
“Do ye want tae hear the story or not?”
“Go on.”
“I promised the lass in the vale birds’ eggs if she’d let me leave, so she did,” he said. “I saw her in Brechin yesterday and… and she wanted tae know where her eggs were. So I told her I’d bring them today.”
Nikolaus’ bushy eyebrows lifted in disbelief. “Eggs, is it?” he said. “Ye’re a madman for returning tae the vale. She’ll be waiting for ye with the rest of the demons and they’ll take more than yer eggs, lad.”
Cam shook his head. “I dunna think so,” he said, trying to soften his grandfather’s edge. “She was honorable tae me the first time. I’ve no reason tae believe she wouldna be again.”
Nikolaus shook his head at his foolish grandson. “Ye canna go.”
“I must. I promised. And ye always told me that a man doesna break his word. Or did ye mean only with people ye approve of?”
Caught in a trap of his own making, Nikolaus sighed heavily and muttered, “With all men.”
“I dinna hear ye.”
Anger flashed in Nikolaus’ eyes. “I said with all men,” he barked. “Yer word is yer word. But if ye’re going tae the vale, I’d better go with ye tae keep ye out of trouble. I’ll not let ye go alone.”
Cam rolled his eyes; the last thing he wanted was his grandfather tagging along as he tried to flirt with a woman.
“Ye worry too much,” he told him.
“I’m going with ye.”
“Ye’renotgoing with me.”
Cam bolted for the door at that point, shutting it in Nikolaus’ face so he wouldn’t follow. He stood there, holding the door fast as Nikolaus tried to pull it open from the other side. He stood there and held it shut long enough for Nikolaus to give up before releasing it and running for the chicken coop, where he collected three big eggs.
He’d told Isadora he would bring her eggs, but he never said whatkindof eggs. He grinned, thinking it would be a fine joke. He hoped she would think so, too.
