"The ghosts attack." I was halfway to the entrance when Matt overtook me and loped up the stairs three steps at a time. A glance over my shoulder confirmed Theo was right behind me. Before we reached the first floor, a throng of people approached, engulfed us, and carried us back down to the next landing. Pressed into the corner of the stairwell, I was glad Theo stood like a wedge in front of me, diverting the tidal wave of screaming fugitives down the stairs. When the stream trickled away to a more organised queue of elderly people, we ventured from our nook and into the deserted knights' hall.

The room was a battlefield. Broken chairs and plates littered the floor, silverware, shards of wine bottles and glasses. Somewhere, a baby wailed, and from under a soiled tablecloth, two wide-eyed kids stared at us as if we were the devil incarnate. Matt approached them, kneeling down, and reached out a hand. "Hey guys, time to come out, the party is over. Let's find your parents before they get worried."

I left the job of coaxing the frightened children to my partner and picked up a napkin to snuff a candle, toppled over and igniting the crushed remains of a delicate origami rose used as a decoration. Another piercing wail followed by a soft sob made me check for the distressed toddler. But Theo had already found the poor thing. Bowed over a baby carrier on a chair beside the fireplace, he stared at the tiny occupant with clouded eyes. "Who leaves their child unattended in such a situation?" He reached out, and the baby squealed louder than before.

"Let me." I offered the girl a finger, and to my relief, she took it and stopped crying. "Not much damage done with her. What happened here?"

"The ravens happened." He pointed at the greenish, glowing blobs of goo splattered on the tables and the floor. The ectoplasmic bird turd covered every surface, and when I checked my feet, bitter bile rose in my throat. A splash of the yucky stuff soiled my flip-flops, and a drop glowed on my jeans. Of course, Theo seemed not affected at all.

I swallowed my disgust and turned back to the kid. While I lifted her from the carrier, she chuckled and grabbed for my curls. "Now, sweetie, be a good girl and don't hurt me while I search for your parents."

"Holy cow." Lou's outburst made me jump. He stood at the hall's entrance, a hand pressed over his mouth. "That's the worst we've seen yet, the ultimate disaster."

Matt stood up, followed by the two boys who might have been eight or nine. "Our young friends here say it rained green goo, and that the ugly stuff burns the skin."

"Yes, the poop is acidic. That's why we installed all those sunshades in the yard, they catch most of the excrements." Louis sent me a stern glance. "Didn't you predict they'd leave my guests alone here?"

"I'm not into predictions, I said that I believed indoors would be safer. Reckon I was wrong."

Before the boss could voice his anger, Theo came to my defence. "We all agreed the knights' hall would be the best choice. Is there anything we can do to calm the guests?"

"I doubt it. The dragon lady tries to find a coach that picks them up. Right now, they huddle in the yard, complain about ruined clothes, and cry for compensation." He rubbed his temples and addressed the boys. "Come, kids, I'll bring you to your parents."

I followed him down the stairs while the baby chewed on one of my curls and emitted happy, bubbling noises. "At least we learned Matt's sensors work and might go from there."

Lou snorted. "We don't need sensors to locate the ghosts, we need something to repel them."

He was right, of course, but I preferred not to remind him of Grandma Elise's rule number one in dealing with spectres. 'Never try to chase them, Sandrine,' she used to say, smiling at me with shining eyes in a dark, wrinkled face. 'Getting on their nasty side will lead to disaster, and that's not a goal any wise woman should pursue.' Somehow, I doubted Lou in his agitated state would appreciate my voodoo ancestor's paranormal wisdom.

Halfway downstairs, a dishevelled woman pounced on me and wrenched the girl from my arms. "What have you done to my daughter?" The poor child yanked out a few of my hairs, gasped for air, and returned to sobbing, but I wasn't in the mood to confront a mother driven by remorse. With a shrug, I turned and climbed back to the hall while she fussed over her darling.

Matt and Theo straightened chairs and cleaned tables, quietly laughing about a joke I'd missed. From the maintenance cabinet, I fetched a broom and joined them, careful to avoid stepping into more poop or on shards. Lou reappeared twenty minutes later, took in our work and sighed. "Thanks, guys. I didn't expect you to clean up this horrible mess. And you didn't even have dinner yet."

"Must admit, my appetite evaporated." Matt crumpled the last soiled tablecloth and threw it on the heap in a corner. "But when we're done here, I'll appreciate a beer. How are the guests?"

"Fine, calming down, and probably down-voting us on trip advisor."

I fought against the sudden urge to laugh. Matt handed Lou a serving tray loaded with abandoned cell phones and a few wallets and purses he'd collected from the tables. "You might keep these as consolation and compensation, then." He winked and soon we both guffawed, joined a moment later by Theo.

Even Louis cracked a smile, but he was the first to relapse into a serious mood. "Right, I'll bring these down, I'm not keen for another visit of our esteemed police sergeant today. Any progress at all from your side with the ghost hunt? I hoped you'd get this sorted before, you know, Armageddon."

"To find the ghosts is one thing, to get rid of them another." I emptied my dustpan into the garbage bag Theo held open for me. "Matt's sensors work, so do Theo's and my ghost-sensing skills. But the birds appeared and attacked in an instant without giving a clue on their reasons. To get them to abandon their mission, we must understand their motivation."

<> <> <>

After our cleaning mission, we picked up sandwiches and drinks in the kitchen and retreated to the garden. The ravens showed no interest in our exclusive group, so we enjoyed a quiet dinner in the cooling evening air. Later, Lou joined us, carrying more drinks. "The guests left now. This hostel is so out of business, worse than during the pandemic. Can you imagine the reviews we'll receive for tonight?"

I could—and felt guilty. "I'll try to get hold of Guillaume later. If he isn't the bigwig, he's at least been hanging around for several centuries. And he claimed he knows the ravens."

"And, as a bonus, he nurtures a soft spot for women." Theo sent me one of his charming smiles, and I felt heat rushing to my face. "But you're right, San, as things stand, I think he's our best shot."

"Who's Guillaume?" Lou sipped at his beer, the wrinkles around his eyes deeper in the mellow evening light. "Should I know him?"

"Are you kidding? He's the famous founder of the castle, or his ghost, to use the correct designation. He also was angry that you called in ghost hunters, thought you engaged us to throw him out of his own castle." I withheld the delicate detail Guillaume had called him a clown.

"A one hundred percent genuine ghost?" He scratched his russet beard. "Do you have proof?"

Matt chuckled. "Don't tell us you don't believe in ghosts, not with all the glowing evidence the ravens left behind in the hall."

Lou's lips parted and closed a moment later without forming a word. Amazed how clueless he was about the paranormal activity in his castle, I shook my head. "You've not the slightest inkling of ghosts, right? I bet you've never seen one, although some of your guests confirmed they stick around because of Sir Guillaume." His wince told me I was right. "I might introduce you to him. What's in for me for setting up an enriching experience?"

"Are you trying to blackmail me?"

"No, I'd never. But what about a bet? What are you willing to do? Dance the Charleston? Sacrifice your manly beard?"

He fingered the tip of his goatee. "Depends, if your Guillaume stops the ravens, I might. But not tonight. The orange dragon lady depleted my batteries, so I plan to spend the witching hour in the realm of dreams, for once."

"As if the souls of the departed would care about mundane hours." Theo drained his glass and flashed me another smile. "San, I think you should arrange a meeting between the first and the current holder of this keep."

My glance travelled to the first stars dotting the darkening sky while the moon sent its silver light over the forested hills. "I will, but not tonight, got business to attend to first. See you tomorrow, pals."

I drowned the dregs of my nightcap and retreated to my room. It was still early, but Guillaume sprawled on my bed, bathed in the moonlight that fell through the open window.

Mail shirt jingling, he stood and greeted me with a bow. "Ah, welcome home, my beautiful lady, forgive my spontaneous intrusion. How was your day?"

"Strenuous. I take it you didn't make headway with the ravens?" I dropped in his place on the bed.

He puffed out his chest. "Oh yes, I did. In fact, we had a lengthy conversation last night."

"But?"

"Nothing but. Have you ever tried to lead a sensible talk with a raven?" He paced the floor, ignoring the fact he walked straight through the writing desk and chair. "They were more interested in practical skills, so I taught them crossing through walls. I might introduce the subject of moral virtues next time."

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