Trafalgar and Bartholomew rode the circular platform together while it rose toward the highest floor of the dormitory building.
Bartholomew kept glancing around during the ascent, as if the platform itself had become more luxurious just because it was carrying them toward that part of the building.
"It's been a long time since I came up this far," he said. "It still surprises me that all this space is reserved only for the heirs of the Eight Great Families."
Trafalgar gave a small shrug.
"When you think about it, it's normal enough." He did not sound especially impressed by it, which made sense. He had lived in that part of the tower long enough for the excess to fade into routine. "Forget the building. We've got something else to deal with."
