Cam’s jaw twitched. He was displeased with his grandfather’s reaction. “I understand,” he said as he opened the door, revealing the pink sky at dawn beyond. “But I think ye’re wrong.”
“Ye havena lived as long as I have, lad.”
“Just because ye were denied marrying the women ye loved doesna mean I will be denied the same. I’ll do everything in my power tae make sure Isadora becomes my wife and I’m sorry if ye dunna approve.”
“If I dinna love ye, I wouldn’t care.”
“I think ye’re letting an old memory cloud yer advice. I’m notye. Things will be different with me.”
Cam and Nikolaus never had harsh words, but these words were coming close. Unwilling to argue with his grandson any longer, Nikolaus simply waved him on, shutting the door behind him as he headed down the road toward Brechin.
Nikolaus only had himself to blame, he knew. Cam was just like him, as stubborn and as immovable as a mountain. In this case, however, that mountain was going to have to consider the alternative to taking a stand—perhaps Cam didn’t have anything against enemy clans of the Lindsay, but it was quite possible those clans had something against Cam.
While Cam was in Brechin conducting business, Nikolaus thought he might make his own trek up to the Vale of Demons to see if he could find that red-haired lass his grandson was so sweet on. Perhaps he and the lass needed to have a conference of their own before Cam was in too deep to pull himself out.
Perhaps it was already too late.
Nikolaus had a terrible feeling he was going to find out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Being this closeto Keith lands made him nervous.
Nikolaus remembered this vale well because long ago, it was where he first met his first love. She’d been petite and fiery, with hair much like the red-haired lass he’d seen with Cam. She’d had an unruly tongue from what he remembered but it had only made him laugh. He could still recall her name even if the passing time had blurred her face a little.
Clova.
He hadn’t recalled that name in a very long time. There had been moments in his youth, after he’d married Cam’s grandmother, that he’d thought of Clova, but it had been nothing more than a brief thought followed by a flash of regret. He’d been forced to forget about the spitfire of a lass who had enchanted him for that moment in time. He’d stopped wondering a long time ago what their life together would have been like.
It simply wasn’t meant to be.
But he hadn’t told his grandson any of this and he wasn’t sure why. Perhaps it was because, deep down, the memories were still ached dully. It wasn’t something he wanted to relive. But now, he found himself in the same vale where he’d known Clova, recalling those memories whether or not he wanted to ashe waited for a lass who might very well cause the same pain to his grandson if he didn’t do something.
The morning passed into the afternoon and still, he waited. Once or twice, he thought he heard voices, but whoever it was had passed him by as he sat near the brook at the base of the vale. He was camouflaged down in the greenery until the sun began to set and he was coming to think he had missed the lass. He wasn’t sure when he’d get another chance to seek her out, alone. Perhaps he’d send Cam off on another errand that would take him away overnight.
Just enough time for Nikolaus to try again.
With regret, he made his way out of the foliage, his bad hip causing him pain as he hiked up the slope of the vale and to the trail at the top. From this point, it was nearly a straight line down to the flatlands below and on to Netherton. He was thinking on the supper he would make this night and wondering fleetingly if Cam had already come home to discover his grandfather missing. Their stall in town had been cold and dark all day, which would make Cam suspicious.
He would wonder where his grandfather had been.
Nikolaus wasn’t sure what he was going to tell his prying grandson but he would have to think of something. Perhaps he’d tell him that he’d gone out to hunt for more birds’ eggs but he doubted Cam would believe him.
It was worth a try, anyway.
And then, he smelled it.
Smoke.
Odd that he was suddenly hit with a heavy whiff of smoke, and not from a cooking fire, either. This smoke was carried on the breeze that blew in from the ocean because it was heading west, meaning it had blown over the flatlands where several villages, including Netherton, were situated. Menmuir, Finavon, Fern… those were all villages around Netherton and as Nikolausheaded toward a viewpoint along the trail, he was curious as to where the smoke was coming from. Smoke this heavy meant a big fire.
Unfortunately, he received his answer.
In the distance, he could see a great fire at Netherton and his heart sank. Netherton had many stone structures, but it also had structures of wood in the center of the village and from what he could see, a great fire had spread. More than likely a cooking fire, as that had been known to happen, but he was concerned for his stall. It was made of stone because of the forge, but it was better to check on his livelihood to make sure it was intact. Better still to check on the village who looked up to him as a wise elder.
He would be needed.
The old man with the bad hip began to run.
