Skulduggery touched down beside Valdis the moment she got to her feet, showing off in a way that wouldn't necessarily have been pegged as showing off unless you knew Skulduggery personally. His hat was still perched on his head, his suit still impeccable and unruffled by the wind.

"Impressive," he commented before turning and walking over the roof. "If you don't mind my saying so, you don't seem especially comfortable."

That wouldn't necessarily have been unusual, except that Skulduggery hadn't seen Valdis uncomfortable before, even while confronting Evandau himself. She didn't seem the type to be made uncomfortable by exploring a Palace tainted by darkness, either, which meant Skulduggery must have been the cause - and Anton must have told them to explore together for a reason. Might as well discover what that reason was.