Father Beacom turned toward the elf, showing his rather hawkish face to the newcomer.  "Good tidings!" he repeated, though not in a friendly way, but rather astonished that someone could wish him good tidings at a time like this.  "Good tidings, he says, when the harbinger of doom stalks us, punishing us for our sins."  

The sailors behind Father Beacom exchanged a glance, then quickly turned back to their work of ferrying supplies, seeing an opportunity to escape the man's ramblings.  "Have you sought salvation through the goddess, Justicia, elf?"