The sudden spike in pressure made the water around their ankles boil with tiny, agitated bubbles.
Elara was already on her feet, though her knees wobbled so violently she had to catch herself against the edge of the coral couch. Her face was bleached entirely white, the golden light in her eyes flickering like a candle caught in a draft.
"Three fleets?" Elara whispered, her voice cracking right down the middle. "Three? They... they brought the Inquisitors? But I'm just an arch-mage candidate! Why would they send three entire executioner armadas for one runaway?"
