Kraft met Peter. At least, the man seemed to be in pretty good spirits, with an air about him unlike that of the other residents.
It was clear he'd at least wiped his face before coming to Church. The dust no longer obscured his features, making him look more like an outsider than a local. There was none of the aloofness the locals wore like low earthen walls—not enough to hinder conversation, but enough to discourage contact.
To be honest, that attitude was acceptable. After all, in places where The Church held sway, they wouldn't take kindly to a heretic making himself known. If this was due to a difference in faith, then at least these people were friendlier than The Church.
Peter greeted the Priest first. When he learned that Kraft and his companions were believers from elsewhere, he grew enthusiastic and went up to embrace William, who was leading the group. They seemed to become close friends in an instant, making the usually sociable captain a little embarrassed.
"I never thought I'd meet fellow believers in Heavenly Father here." Peter laughed as he released William. This was the first time he'd been welcomed so warmly as a believer, and finding the faintest sense of belonging in a foreign land moved him.
"Come aboard. The Priest told me we should treat one another like brothers and sisters. It's only right that we help each other."
Finding a devout believer in Gravel Town meant the Priest's situation probably wasn't as dire as Kraft had thought. Though the Priest hadn't asked for anything, Kraft still clasped his hand as he passed and slipped a few coins into it. "Church brothers shouldn't leave one another in the lurch. We'll be relying on you for the rest of the journey."
Kup pulled his