Malachi thought that that was hardly reason enough to spit on a total stranger. A pregnant one, at that. It was clear from his frown that the answer dissatisfied him, but it was not this young woman’s fault – the world was cruel in many ways, and apparently this was just another one of them.

He took a breath to clear his head. Glanced back out at the sea, where the gentle waves (if they could even be called that) rolled along the shore.

“Me?” there was a delay after the question, short as it was. Malachi looked back at Sonia, noting how she had seated herself again, and hoped she had not over-exerted herself. If he noticed her inspection, it did not seem to bother him.

“Solomon,” came his answer, confident as any truth.

“Traveling lanternist. I just wanted to spend some time by the ocean before my ship leaves.”