Biffy heard the splintering and for a moment, he assumed the worst, looking at the house or its barn for structural damage. Only after checking on those did he remember the shed he'd put on the property. It was meant to be a gift to Lyall, a place like the grounds of Woolsey where he might continue on with his experiments. Except, well, Biffy's remaining creativity and soul had been invested in the making and beautification of hats.

Even when he was mortal with a complete soul, Biffy had never been good at the more rough-handed arts. The shed had been a bit of a botch job from the beginning. Things leaned to one side or the other and some parts had never fit true. Lyall had taken it all with remarkable poise because he was Lyall but Biffy knew full well that it was not his best effort.

Daine and Magnus looked concerned and distressed that he felt bad about the expression of relief on his face, one that he was sure was turning into amusement.

"That shed never had a good run and every occupant of this house knows it," he said as diplomatically as possible. "It was an unworthy but necessary sacrifice."