A gentle blush works over Caleb's cheeks, charmed and fond and deeply in love. He smiles back at Essek, and if it were not for the gory, macabre box Essek was still holding, he might have leaned over and kissed him.

They came into the castle, then, which was not quite as lively at this time of day as the rest of the village was, but was still neatly populated. Still, no one had approached them so far, and Caleb wasn't sure that anyone would--particularly since Caleb wasn't bearing a box of his own to encourage those who had lost or misplaced in this situation.

But, while they had a moment to themselves, Caleb murmured to Essek, "I would not mind seeing how you remind me, ja?"