Edmar wasn't entirely sure what to make of the situation. It got dark, and no one came back to the little house. He puzzled over the "X" painted onto the door. Had it been a sign not to enter? There seemed to be no danger here.
Perhaps it indicated the owners had left? A little more exploring showed that there were clothes for a man, a woman, and a child.
The man's clothes fit much better than his mossy creation, and Edmar smiled as he felt the fabric against his skin. It had been years since he'd worn real clothes.
Brenna was right, things were finally going well for them. He found a razor and did his best to trim his beard into a reasonable style; the rocks of the grey world could not be sharpened enough to do him any good in that regard.
The bedding had been soiled, but Brenna had thrown the sheets and blankets out when she found new ones in the closet. When she woke, she said she felt like a new woman. If only they could see each other through the thick mist, this would feel like a perfect world.
Just him, and the woman he loved, together in a little house, doing little things.
The second day, they ate more of the food and enjoyed sitting in chairs. Edmar was tempted to go exploring some more to get better bearings before the food ran out, but Brenna urged a day of rest.
He gave in, always wanting what was best for her, and not wanting to be separate from her.
The third day, the mist cleared, surprising them both. It was as if a gentle breeze had coaxed it away, leaving them free to look around the home more clearly.
Edmar lifted a curtain to look out the window, something he hadn't bothered doing since their arrival because it would have done no good.
"We're in a town!" He whispered loudly, gesturing her over.
"A town?" Brenna blinked, joining him. "Where are the people?"
"Should we go looking? Perhaps we shouldn't be seen. We don't even know if they're humans or not." He chewed the inside of his cheek in thought. Maybe Brenna should stay here where it was safe and he would go looking to see what they could.
She looked like she was about to answer him when she grabbed his arm and yanked him away from the window.
"There's someone there!" She exclaimed quietly.
He flattened himself to the wall before leaning to peek out with one eye through the curtains, keeping them mostly shut.
"A family," He said, "humans."
A very large family. Five, ten, fifteen… over twenty children?
He shook his head in disbelief. So many!
The littlest one was on the mother's hip, pulling at her hair. The woman laughed and removed the little fingers from her locks, with her husband's help.
Edmar froze as the couple came close enough for him to see their faces more clearly. Though it had been years, there could be no mistake.
Caspian and his Rhone wife, Naomi.
How? Why were they here? Where was here, anyway?
"We're home," He said to Brenna, dropping the curtain. "It seems my dear brother and his wife survived the war and procreated most… efficiently."
She peeked out and her eyes widened. "How long has it been? They can't have… well maybe there are some twins amongst them, but… no, one of those children has bright red hair! There's no way…"
Brenna continued murmuring to herself, but Edmar seethed. His younger brother was living a perfect, happy life. He'd probably never missed him at all. Just gone on happily with that arranged Rhone bride of his. Likely the two of them ruled all Ceto together.
He blinked. Were they in Ceto? His view through the window did not provide enough view to see where they were. On occasion, a dense fog rolled in off the sea, but nothing like what had been huddled over this town since their arrival.
The large family passed by without bothering to glance at the home Edmar and Brenna occupied. Clearly they were on their way somewhere; each of them carried a pack of some kind, except the smallest, held in Naomi's arms.
"Should we follow them?" Brenna whispered. "Will they hold a grudge after all this time?"
Edmar shrugged. "We've seen no one else, and have no other clues as to where we are."
"In these clothes we may be able to blend in with other townspeople." Brenna suggested, "If we encounter others."
It was as good a plan as any, and once the family was out of sight, the couple inched the front door open and stealthily made their way down the street in the direction they'd gone.
The many children made enough noise that it wasn't difficult to follow them, and their footsteps were not easily detected.
Edmar pulled the stolen hat low on his head, and Brenna covered her hair with a scarf. It might look a little conspicuous, since it was a warm day, but she said it was better than letting her face show freely. There were few out to be seen, and so far nobody paid them any mind.
"There aren't enough people," Brenna said, looking around. "For all the houses here… where is everyone?"
The question settled into Edmar's mind as they continued following Caspian at a distance. To an outsider, it might seem like a family simply out on a walk, but Edmar knew his brother too well. He was up to something.
Or maybe it was his imagination.
Eventually, at the edge of the town, the group stopped. Edmar squinted. A series of tents was set up, like a military installation. They were at the base of a mountain pass, nowhere near Ceto. He didn't recognize the area at all.
What manner of war or conflict had brought Caspian here?
He took Brenna's hand and the pair moved into the shadows, coming closer until they could overhear the conversation Caspian was having with one of the soldiers. Naomi played with the children in a field next to the tent while the men talked.
"We need to leave tomorrow," The stranger was saying. "There can be no more delay or we risk too much. The entire town, what's left of it, is coming with us."
Edmar risked a look around the corner. The man was in a Klain military uniform. The alliance must have been successful then.
"I will find a wagon that can hold all the children," Caspian said grimly. That must mean he had been here for some time then, or he would have a method to take his children everywhere.
"Take whatever you need. The few surviving members of the town leadership are willing for you to have anything to thank you for caring for the orphans." The soldier said.
"They're not orphans anymore," The Cetoan replied. "Unless a relative comes to claim them, Naomi intends to keep each and every one as our own."
"Quite an undertaking," The soldier remarked.
"My wife is quite a woman," Caspian's tone held warmth, and it made Edmar pause. Were none of the children his? Had his brother failed to father a single child?
He was simultaneously haughty and disappointed. Caspian hadn't continued their lineage, neglecting his duty. If Brenna were willing, Edmar would have fathered at least half a dozen children in their time in the grey world.
She had made her point. If they were trapped forever, it would be sad to leave children behind who would not be able to find mates for themselves. But, of course, now that they were confirmed to be back in their own world…
He tried to look at her nonchalantly. He loved her with everything in him. Desperately needed her, but also was terrified to have her upset with him. It was an impossible situation, but now, perhaps the balance would change. She might feel hope, and soften towards him.
If Brenna noticed his look, she didn't show it. Her brow was creased in concentration as she listened, and the conversation appeared to be coming to an end.
"The houses with X's on the doors are the ones confirmed to have no living owners," The soldier was saying, "So you need not ask before taking anything from them. If you see something you need or want from somewhere else, knock and ask. Now that the crisis is over, some are generous and some… well. Not everyone remembers how important kindness is."
Brenna made eye contact with Edmar and jerked her head. He nodded, and they backed away from their position, retracing their steps back to the house where they'd begun. Edmar took note of how many homes they passed with X's carved into the door.
With an unfamiliar feeling of uncertainty in his heart, he wondered what in the worlds had happened here, and whether he and Brenna were in far worse danger than he'd realized.