Once the constable began to speak, Malachi took the time to bring a spoonful of stew to his mouth. Still hot, the steam warmed his nose, and he blew on it lightly while he listened.

Didn't know much about other religions, Crane said. That was alright. Malachi supposed he knew enough about the one that mattered to him.

Taking the spoon into his mouth, he gave another low hum. He could not argue with the constable's logic, though he found logic rather misplaced in matters of the heart. Malachi looked away from him for a moment to consider his words, holding the spoon in his mouth as if he'd forgotten it was there.

"Try not to concern yourself with what you should or should not want, or do," he advised, pulling the clean spoon away. "That is far too much to burden yourself with right now. If you want to move on from him, focus on what else might capture you, not on whether or not you should want something in the first place."