Chapter 40 : Resignation

• Zephyr had ordered the mage-royal to the roof of the spire, a defensive position at the palace center from which they would cover the area in magic, surrounding it with a constraining barrier and thereby cutting off the escape of the officials and Caliphus. Additionally, he had called a meeting of the ten to be held in the chambers of the High Court. 
• Blackridge had sent Dehnhardt ahead of him with Kallida and now made his way alone through the empty halls of High Palace. He went quickly through the royal bedchambers patterned in red and gold, into the hidden passage behind the wardrobe, and walked down the stone hall which led to the lofty spiral stairs of the tower. He hurriedly made his ascent, his feet propelling him each step ever higher. He reached the top of the staircase, a wooden platform around the edge of the circular tower with ladders leading upwards to the archers' stations and a door leading out onto the slanted roof. 
• He quietly opened the door with care, inspecting the scene. The roof was sloped, covered in dark maurium tiles with a stone base around the perimeter. The stone portion was walled, flat, and about a three foot drop from the base of the spire.