The Teacher

Binding Parlay of Old Magic

"I would ask what I owe the pleasure of your visit to, but based on that smile I would say it's not a pleasure visit today." The bishop's voice was rich and deep and inherently trustworthy and Finn blinked. It was rare for a Bishop to have that particular angelic blessing.

"You have a rogue priest." Finn got straight to the point, sharing what Gloria had said without giving names or any other details. The Bishops face grew angrier the more she spoke. When she was done he leaned back with a deep breath and steepled his hands in front of his chest.

"I know the family you're speaking of. Their daughter is missing, although they are insisting she's simply secluded herself in their house to pray. There is a younger daughter, not quite old enough to tow the line the parents are feeding out. Before we get to the issue at hand, can I assume that if you are here the daughter is safe?"

"Safe is a relative term." Finn hedged and the Bishop frowned, but nodded.

"Very well. They did ask me for an exorcism several times, but I refused. There simply wasn't grounds for it." He watched Finn carefully.

"And yet they managed to get multiple done."

"So the daughter claims. You understand my reticence I hope?" The Bishop rested his hands on the desk and met Finns gaze. "If I simply offered punishment for every claimed transgression I would have no priests: no Shepard for the flock."

"You claim she lies?" Finn asked calmly. This was an old verbal dance and as annoying as it was it had to be done every time to satisfy even older magic.

"I said no such thing. I'm sure that she is a God fearing woman who wouldn't lie. However, it may not be a real priest but some evil man parading as such. If that were the case it wouldn't fall to my feet."

"And if it is one of your priests he broke Church law by providing an exorcism without your approval, he broke several mundane laws as she is still a minor here, and because she is not a mundane he crossed the border and broke laws I'm called to uphold as well." Finn finished her dance and felt the weight of the old magics lift.

"I truly hate those." The Bishop said as he relaxed as well. "Would a truth spell not have been easier?"

"Whose truth?" Finn asked. "Which perspective?" She spread her hands out, palms up. "Truth spells are difficult to cast when you know everything about a situation except the lie. When there's all sorts of ways someone could be lying the spell is too broad. It would alert every time you open your mouth." She rolled her shoulders back and settled into her chair more. "This one isn't much better though, I'll give you that."

"So, I know the family. I don't know which of the priests would go against the church like that, if it was one of mine. You know what the Church will say if it was one of mine. He will be called to serve in a different diocese."

"That satisfy's church law. I won't get involved in mundane law, and if she won't press charges - and I highly doubt she will - that ends there. As to the mystical laws; I am now involved and his punishment is quite severe."

"Death?"

"He faces a demonic tribunal, angelic intervention, and several whippings for attacking a witch."

"Do you still do the whippings?" The bishop frowned. "That seems a little harsh."

"Honestly the last time I had to do a whipping the woman was an idiot and decided to try to out run me through the brush. She had to have found every thorn bush and patch of poison ivy in the bush by the time she stopped running. I just made her walk home with the burning and itching." Finn shrugged. "The point is lost if they don't learn anything."

"I'm curious as a cat about what on earth she did."

"Tried hitting me with a love spell. She had it in her head that the spell being filtered through clothing is what prevented them from sticking to me in all previous attempts so they were naked." Finn shrugged.

"What was the man's punishment?" The bishop asked archly. "I seem to recall you have always been about balance and equality."

"I made him ask me out publicly. Roses, balloons, the whole nine."

"And said no."

"And said no." Finn agreed.

"Public shaming is considered bullying now."

"True, but everything else he was doing would be considered assault now so I say it still balances out."

"Ah, it wasn't a case of actual love then." The bishop nodded, his faith in Finn apparently restored, and leaned forward onto his desk. "I'll do what I can to find out if it was one of mine and deal with him accordingly, but I can't help with the rest of it."

"I understand. I have one more issue I need your help with though." Finn frowned and crossed her arms. "If you can't just say so, but for my own reasons I need to go to her house. I need to read the energies around it."

"I can't intervene directly, nor could I tell you which house they live in, but I can mention it to a mutual friend and see if they want to get involved." Bishop Garry stood, and Finn stood as well. "If Gloria is ever up to speaking to me, I would like to convey my apologies for my part in everything. I would like her to know that whatever magics she's grown into I am one of the few that understands they come from God."

Finn frowned. "I'll pass on the information if and when I think she will be open to hearing it. Were you fond of hellfire sermons?"

The bishop winced. "I am not fond of them, but the Archbishop is and he enjoys sending friends and family to make sure that we are doing our part to warn our parishioners about the wages of sin."

"Oh he sounds a real peach." Finn muttered and Bishop Garry nodded. "I'll take my leave and let you know if I need anything else. You'll get a hold of me after you speak to the mutual friend you mentioned?"

"I will, although I'm fresh out of doves. I don't suppose I could get your phone number or email?" The bishop smiled good naturedly and Finn scribbled the phone number on a pad of paper.

"No email?" The bishop asked.

"Not a lot of point." Finn answered, and showed herself out of the office and back into her own home.