Cormac and Melusine continued on their way to the Mariana Trench, but when they finally reached it, they found a great terror take hold of them. Pacifica may have been down there, but it was down in the dark, the unknown and the mysterious.
Sitting at the very edge of the Trench, holding his legs close to his body while Melusine sat behind him in the same manner holding her tail close to her body, Cormac said: "Look at us! Sixteen years old and afraid of the dark!" Then sighing, he added: "No, not just the dark… If it was just the dark, then it wouldn't be so bad. We don't know what is down there besides the obvious."
"How do we even know what part of the Trench Pacifica is in?" Melusine asked, turning her head to somewhat look at Cormac. "Are we just supposed to swim on down? How big even is it?"
"Well…" began Cormac, looking down into the darkness of the Mariana Trench. "It is a city state so it might not cover the entirety of the Trench, though I imagine that the surrounding area might be farmland."
Sighing, Melusine said: "So, we might swim on down and miss it completely. Great…"
Nodding, Cormac took the map out of his pocket. Pacifica was merely shown to be in the Mariana Trench with no indication just what part of it the city was in. Did Orlaith not have a more accurate map or was this the extent of the knowledge of those who dwelt in the Celtic Sea? Only knowing the location of Pacifica rather than the exact location… That was great help, but at the same time it was probably the most that could have been given. Had Orlaith ever been to Pacifica before? Urefenkebos had come from there, but had Orlaith or any merrow be they man or maiden ever been this far? Cormac supposed that Melusine had, being a Surface-Born Merrow-Maiden and all, but what about Natural-Born Merrow-Maidens? Had Orlaith or anyone she knew ever been this far from the Celtic Sea?
Such questions were soon banished from Cormac's mind when a voice said: "You see, Takeo? Did I not tell you? Just like how Ronemun looked in his youth?"
Looking up from the map, Cormac saw Urefenkebos and her band in the company of a Profound One with the head of a dragonfish and a black-colouration. Mounted upon a monstrous reptile that was fifty-two feet long with a short neck, a crocodile-like head, flippers and a fluke, the Profound One was armed with a staff and clad in an attire fit for a warrior, albeit one for a society that would be considered barbaric including a golden, horned, helmet in the likeness of some fearsome sea beast… Though Cormac presumed that the helmet was not truly golden, as a helmet made out of gold would be poor. The golden bracers, the golden belt, the golden spikes upon the shoulder guards with the right being completely golden and the left purple and golden, it certainly seemed that this Profound One favoured a colour when it came to his attire.
Still, the appellation that Urefenkebos had spoken… Takeo! Ronemun's archenemy, the mage, the would-be Deep Lord, a kinsman to Ronemun just as he himself was.
Noticing a brand hanging at Takeo's side as well, Cormac grew nervous. If Takeo knew the way of the brand as well, then he probably had much more experience than the Young Egan did.
For a long while, Takeo was silent. Cormac knew not what the Would-Be Deep Lord was going to do, he merely stood there with Melusine behind him, looking from behind his shoulder.
Finally, Takeo shook his head and uttered: "This is too close to Pacifica for my liking, Urefenkebos. My men are still scattered after my last attempt to take the city by force, but I can see that you did not interfere with my crystal. The boy does indeed resemble Ronemun as he once looked. You are an Egan, boy?"
"I-I am, sir." Cormac answered. "Cormac Egan, named after my paternal great-uncle who I understand, as strange as it is, is Ronemun's paterfamilias."
His huge, unblinking eyes staring into Cormac, Takeo drummed his fingers along the saddle of his mount. What was going on in the Would-Be Deep Lord's head? That was certainly something that Cormac and Melusine both wished they knew. He just sat there, staring at them and they did not know if he was going to let them go or try to kill them.
A look of impatience appearing on her countenance, though neither Cormac or Melusine had any idea how, Urefenkebos asked: "What are you waiting for? Enchant them! Cast a spell! Do something! You cannot allow Ronemun to have any new allies!"
"I'm not interested in suicide." Replied Takeo, directing his mount to swim off. "Let Young Cormac and his mermaid companion go down to Pacifica. I will not do them any harm this close to the city with my men still scattered."
"You have my followers and I!" objected Urefenkebos.
"Mere trouble makers who wish to do harm for the sheer sake of doing harm!" scoffed Takeo as he rode off. "We may worship the same deities, Urefenkebos, but I find you and your band absolutely useless!"
"Wait! Wait!" The Natural-Born Mermaid cried, swimming after the Would-Be Deep Lord. "We can be of use!"
It was at this point that Cormac and Melusine went down into the Mariana Trench. They may not have known what Urefenkebos said to Takeo, but they had a good idea.