"Cherubs have - " Paddy cut himself off before he could finish the thought and solidify the joke. Because it was a joke. Had to be. Sorcerers were long-lived and probably had an open-mindedness about things because of that fact, but Paddy was pretty sure that a couple of centuries ago, even the magical community would have frowned on... all-male orgies. For multiple reasons. So, with a nervous cough and a conscious swallow, he smiled. "If that were true, I'm sure the priest of that church would have helped you. Burn it down," he added hastily when he realised what he'd said. "Christians haven't always been the most understanding of people."

Still, the mental image of a priest 'helping' them got stuck, and Paddy had to snap himself out of it. He didn't even know who this man was, for goodness's sake.

"No, it's fine." Paddy ran a hand through his hair and looked down at the young woman. She didn't have a cane, but Solomon had said the actual channeling object could be anything. It wasn't as if Paddy would recognise it. Or perhaps she'd already destroyed it somehow, and now the Temple was after her. Either way, dinner with family Paddy saw all the time paled in comparison to the problem Solomon would be bringing him. "Go ahead into the church, I'll be out in a minute."

Paddy's sister, well-meaning though she was, tended to be a busybody. Paddy would have to head her off right away, as gently as he could. His nephew, on the other hand... Paddy's nephew was just starting high school, firmly in the phase of life where everything was new, and not quite yet out of the phase where he needed to explore it all. He'd be curious in a way Paddy's sister wouldn't be, and kids were very persistent. That would take a lot more finesse, unless... "Is there an age restriction on knowledge of sorcery?"