The portrait was large by goblin standards and depicted a crowned male in heavy ceremonial clothing. Beside him stood a female wearing enough jewels to bankrupt a merchant, with several smaller goblins arranged around them.
The royal family.
"So you're the king," Kael murmured, examining the crowned figure.
That confirmed what sort of building he had entered and suggested that the target upstairs might be royalty as well. More immediately, it gave him something to investigate.
He expanded the map and found that the concealed passage descended into a network beneath the palace. Narrow routes connected different wings, including the bedrooms and administrative areas, while several converged farther underground.
"Escape tunnels. Of course."
If the palace fell, assassins entered, or a coup became inconvenient, the royal family could disappear beneath the walls. The whole arrangement resembled a rat nest built by people who considered betrayal a routine part of governance.
