Once the final ingredient was placed in his hand, Malachi set it on the cutting board too. Held it firm with one hand, started chopping with the other, and considered just how honest he could be with a beggar that no one would ever believe.

As honest as he was with anyone else, he supposed.

"I entertained people," answered Malachi.

Or, more aptly, he'd provided a service. But he had always preferred to think of himself as an entertainer, because it had at least been entertaining for him. He did not elaborate further, chopping the potato into smaller pieces and setting them aside with the rest of the vegetables.

"You should not concern yourself with the life of a priest. We are merely stand-ins, not people to follow for the details of who we are."