"Yes," Skulduggery agreed, sounding just as incredulous about it as Solomon did, if a little more unsure. That would have been proof enough of the skeleton's reaction, if he wasn't also currently wearing a face that mirrored his voice's bafflement. "Yes, he is."
Tanith was laughing. So were Erskine and, to an extent, Barney, both having just entered the chapel behind the bounding dog. Ghastly leaped forward to try and save Paddy from his slobbery fate, whereas Paddy was far too stunned to do much of anything other than uselessly try to push the chocolate lab off of him. It was a surreal scene. It was also one of the few times Skulduggery felt genuine sympathy towards a Catholic priest. It probably wouldn't be the only time he ever felt sympathy for someone meeting Raphael.
Barney, for his part, still looked slightly shell-shocked. He was managing laughter, and managing it admirably, but there weren't many mortals who could take watching someone transform into a small boy, and then a large dog, all in one afternoon. He was a brave man. Not foolishly brave, either, as was usually the case whenever Skulduggery admitted the trait in someone.
The detective looked back in time to see Paddy still sprawled out on the floor, despite Ghastly finally managing to haul Rafe backwards. It was a moment before the priest sat up slowly, eyes clamped shut and shaken, but still inexplicably smiling. He shook his head, wiping at his face with the sleeve of his robe. "It's an honour to meet you too, Raphael."
Skulduggery blinked. This was not how priests were supposed to take things, let alone... divine things. It went against every single experience he'd ever had. If someone like Paddy existed back when Skulduggery was a child, he might never have tried to break away from the illogical faith. He might even have gone on to become a priest himself, given the right circumstances.
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Tanith was laughing. So were Erskine and, to an extent, Barney, both having just entered the chapel behind the bounding dog. Ghastly leaped forward to try and save Paddy from his slobbery fate, whereas Paddy was far too stunned to do much of anything other than uselessly try to push the chocolate lab off of him. It was a surreal scene. It was also one of the few times Skulduggery felt genuine sympathy towards a Catholic priest. It probably wouldn't be the only time he ever felt sympathy for someone meeting Raphael.
Barney, for his part, still looked slightly shell-shocked. He was managing laughter, and managing it admirably, but there weren't many mortals who could take watching someone transform into a small boy, and then a large dog, all in one afternoon. He was a brave man. Not foolishly brave, either, as was usually the case whenever Skulduggery admitted the trait in someone.
The detective looked back in time to see Paddy still sprawled out on the floor, despite Ghastly finally managing to haul Rafe backwards. It was a moment before the priest sat up slowly, eyes clamped shut and shaken, but still inexplicably smiling. He shook his head, wiping at his face with the sleeve of his robe. "It's an honour to meet you too, Raphael."
Skulduggery blinked. This was not how priests were supposed to take things, let alone... divine things. It went against every single experience he'd ever had. If someone like Paddy existed back when Skulduggery was a child, he might never have tried to break away from the illogical faith. He might even have gone on to become a priest himself, given the right circumstances.