The journey back to the Sunless City was tense.
Caspian swam with a stoic rigidity, hiding the limp in his tail and the trembling in his corrupted arm. Primrose stayed close to his good side, her eyes scanning the dark water for threats.
But the threat wasn't outside the city walls. It was inside.
When they passed through the shimmering barrier of the city gates, there were no guards to greet them. No trumpet fish sounded the royal arrival. The streets were eerily empty, the bioluminescent streetlamps dimmed to a low, mournful blue.
"Something is wrong," Caspian murmured, his architect's eyes scanning the layout. "The traffic flow has been diverted. The pressure regulators are set to Lockdown Mode."
"Maybe Crustar just panicked?" Primrose suggested hopefully. "Maybe he pinched the wrong button?"
"No," Caspian's jaw tightened. "This is not panic. This is a siege."
They swam toward the Royal Palace. The massive coral gates were sealed.
