"I do know what fun is, Skulduggery," Raine said, longsuffering. It always seemed to startle her students when she joked, though, to say nothing of their reactions to her, ah, enthusiasm for ruins.

And she was, in truth, curious, but loath to encourage Skulduggery and Solomon even more. They did not need the encouragement to snipe at each other. It would, evidently, happen regardless. "Is giving instructions on how best to irritate you truly a wise decision?" she wondered aloud, approaching gentle teasing herself.