Frannie’s eyebrow shoots up. “What do you think it is this time?”
“Who knows?” I snort. “Finch’s crew is chaos personified at the best of times.”
Without another word, we step out of the room. There’s a chorus of joyful yells coming from the staircase so we head in that direction. Before we can take more than a couple of steps, there’s a screech from inside one of the many empty rooms and someone stumbles out, nearly gamboling into us.
“H-he appeared out of nowhere.” They stare at us with wide eyes, clutching their chest like they’ve seen a ghost.
“Oi.” Bones staggers out after them, covered from head to toe in ash. “Don’t you want to cuddle with the chimney sprite?” He’s putting on an odd high-pitched voice and wiggling his fingers as he follows after the other guy, when he spots us outside, he freezes and then grins.
“You like?” He gestures down at himself.
“What is happening?” Frannie mutters.
“Just a little peek-a-boo prank. Testing out Blacktooth’s reflexes in a stressful situation.”
“By hiding... up the chimney?” I guess.
Bones’ grin practically cracks his face. “Exactly.”
There’s another yip from the staircase, followed by a dull thud and a groan. The three of us share a bemused look before heading close enough to discover what is going on.
At least three members of the crew are throwing themselves face first down the bannister, one after another before landing in a heap at the bottom.
“These guys are insane,” Frannie murmurs.
Then someone passes beside us, clutching a towel to his bleeding head.
“Fucker was hiding under the damn floorboards. How could I not kick him in the face? It was instinct.” Dagger is following behind and gives us a beseeching look.
“Did someone sprinkle stupid powder onto your dinner or something? What is going on?” I ask.
“Just letting off steam,” Bones tells us with a sage nod. “Don’t tell Cookie I said this, but I wish we had eggs. Real ones, you know? Not those shitty dried ones.”
“Maybe we can get chickens,” the guy whose face is bleeding says as he passes by.
“Is he going to be all right?”
“Maybe you can lay a fat egg,” Bones calls after him.
“He’s bleeding right into his eye,” I continue, even though it’s clear no one is listening.
“He’s fine. Dagger will take him to the medic.”
Frannie shoots me a sideways look. “There isn’t a medic, is there?”
“We dug one out,” Bones replies. “And dusted him off. He’s upstairs.”
“Aster?” Frannie asks. “Is he your new medic?”
“The mute witch, yeah.”
“I’m going to ask again. What is going on here?” I mutter. “I was just down here and it was quiet. When did everyone lose their minds?”
“It’s been at least a day since they last had a fight or destroyed something,” a familiar voice says from beside us. “It can’t go much longer or it’ll be a record.”
I twist around to find Captain Finch right behind me.
He gives me a lopsided grin. “Although they’re supposed to be fixing up the place, not destroying it. But perhaps we could say they’re finding all the weak spots that require immediate attention. What do you say, love?”
