"No, no," Malachi shook his head. "He's not here. Not right now."

Which other priest was she referring to?

Perhaps it was Kemble. That one seemed to have been rather unpopular among the congregation, although Richards had a streak of judgement in him as well. If this woman had meandered her merry way through the church doors before, he supposed he would not have been surprised to hear that either of them had mistreated her for daring to have a real problem.

Malachi watched as his 'mother' sorted through her own feelings on the matter, and offered his own solution when the time came.

It was not a good one. Not even slightly. But God, it was so hot in here in his black robes, and sometimes he just wanted to get out.

Pushing himself up, Malachi leaned down just enough to grab both of the woman's hands in his own, and pulled to try to help her up.

"Careful," he warned. "Slippery floor. Where are we going?"