...What.

Malachi froze in place.

Already? He was already being replaced? God, the bishop hated him even more than he'd thought. Had Father Richards complained about him?

"...Pardon?"

He'd never even heard of a Father Merritt, but that didn't mean much. Malachi cleared his throat and took a few steps closer, so as not to leave such a grand space between himself and his apparent replacement.

"You're- are you sure? I took over only a few weeks ago."