There played bigeyed butterfly fish, colored with a palette of white and black and orange. Silversides swam, and among the floating weeds wanderer crabs creep. Seahorses cavort, and at times the young were exploded in droves from the fathers pouch. Shoreward, where rocky outcrops lay, seasnails moved slowly, devouring the algae on their way.
He sensed, rather than saw, their approach.
They came swiftly. The Dolphin swimming in happy glee, Glaucus following at a more subdued pace. After explanations Glaucus willingly accompanied him to Proteus lair.
The pact was sealed. Glaucus would be returned to his prior form. Proteus was to return once more to Poseidon's service. "And myself?" Demo queried.
"It shall be as with Glaucus."
Proteus smiled, if one can say a squid smiles. At least, he grimaced.
"How, then, do we deal with Oceanus? You know of his rekindled ambition. What can be done to placate one such as he?"
They talked long, examining the problem each from his own perspective. "It is a problem without solution!" exclaimed Proteus. "He seems invincible. Yet even he must have some weakness, some hidden defect that might be his downfall." Demo spoke with little assurance.
"None. No, there is not niche in his armor. Any weakness in another is lacking in him. I should know. Weekly, before the Golden Isles fell to Glaucus, Oceanus and I played round after round of golf on those shores. I observed him, talked to him, learned of his history. He opened up to me. I tell you, no, Oceanus has no weaknesses."
"What, of all things, does Oceanus most enjoy?"