Mal gave a closed off look that hid his suspicion. “Reader?” He scoffed. “Virg I thought you knew better than to believe in those folk tales, better have Pike check your head, make sure you’re not sufferin’ from the long term effects of thin air from those cockpits.”

“I got Emma from Sihnon.” Virgil explained, non-plussed before taking another drink. “We had docked to deal and found her lookin’ for work. She wasn’t much ta look at, robes all torn, living offa scraps. Wanted to see the galaxy, leave her temple and find her place in the 'verse, but had walked half the gorram world ta get to the privately owned docks.” He gestured to the elder monk who was helping River with something, what, they didn’t know as Emma had River’s face cupped in her hands and was staring into her eyes as if she was giving mental instruction. “Fiyero’s actually from your motherworld, Shadow pup.” He tilted his head to the boy. “We hid on Dogpatch Island when a squadron was itchin’ to shoot us down and make an example outta us. Whole island was raw land, damp, and green like New Arklow with craters where all the ranches had been bombed out and skeletons bein’ lost ta the moss. We tucked into a grove of trees for a few days, lived off of kokanee salmon and rabbits. When we did some hikin’ Vieve, Em and I found one of the few remaining ranches. Vieve and I went in ta pick out whatever heirlooms were left, seen as Dogpatch was only home ta wild ponies, dogs, rabbits n’ cats; no one was gonna miss out. We came out with a sackful of goods, Em came out with ‘Yero. Boy had been living on his own since the last purple bellies pulled off the island when the war had ended. He was jumpy for the first year, but he’s sturdy, bit of a mouth on 'im.” He turned and gave a serious look to the other captain. “Em’s also taught him how ta sense another reader’s neural wake half a mile away and block them out.” He held out his cup in an offer of a drink.

“Huh.” Mal watched the two readers thoughtfully, and said nothing more. He shook his head to the al