It was the afternoon after Holden and Sable had found Randy’s lost manuscript. Sable had returned to Holden’s apartment after spending a couple of hours at the Grand Library studying with Leryssa. The cait-sith felt like he hadn’t contributed much to the previous cases, so increasing his knowledge of magic would allow him to fill a gap in knowledge that Holden was lacking.


    Once Sable returned, he and Holden made their way for the Red Sun Tavern. It was their usual haunt on days where they weren’t working on a case. The tavern was livelier than usual. It was the weekend, though, so a lot more people were out and about. There were even a few regulars who Holden and Sable recognized.


    Two of these regulars were a couple of academics, who often would argue with one another after the first couple of drinks.


    “Thanador is flat,” the first academic said. “It’s obvious. How else could we stand on the ground unless the world itself was flat. Just look outside, you idiot.”


    “No, no, no,” the second academic replied. “Thanador is round. How else to you explain how if you continue taking a ship west, you’ll eventually end up on the eastern side of the continent?”


    “That’s because of the veil at the end of the world.”


    Everyone knew of the veil at the end of the world. It was a a tick fog that surrounded all of Thanador. Keep going east through the mist, and you’ll pop out on the western side of the world. Keep going north through the mist, and you’ll pop out on the southern side of the continent. It was also important to known that Thanador only had a single continent.


    Holden and Sable took a seat at another table near the two academics, listening intently to their riveting debate.


    The first academic, who insisted that the world was flat, continued to support his claim. “Besides, just step outside. It’s obvious the world was flat. If it were round like you suggested, people would fall off the world into the sky.”


    The second academic pounded his fists on the table. “Are you a fool? Gravity you nitwit, gravity.”


    “Gravity? Do you really think gravity magic is keeping us all planted to the ground. What a moronic idea. And what, pre tell, is producing all of this gravity magic? Gravity magic strong enough to keep this entire world from falling into the sky.”


    “How else do you explain it. If you watch the horizon closely, it’s obvious that the world is round. You can see it curve.”


    The wo academics growled at one another, and were about to continue their argument when Sable suddenly interrupted them.


    “You’re both wrong,” the cait-sith declared, teleporting right in between the two and standing proudly before them. “It’s obvious that Thanador is a cube.”


    The entire tavern grew silent, and everybody curiously turned toward Sable and the two academics. No one had every bothered to get in the middle of their debate before, much less propose a theory neither academic was supporting.


    “And what’s your proof?” the first academic asked, arms crossed.


    “Yes, what’s your proof?” the second academic asked, also crossing his arms.


    Sable stuck his chin up in the air. “Simple. You heard the story of the dwarves who tried digging to the bottom of the world? Well, what did they find when after digging miles beneath the surface. The veil. That’s what they found. Only instead of popping out somewhere else, no one was able to pass through the veil. They tried everything to break through. The sharpest of weapons. The strongest of spells. But nothing could break through.


    The same thing happens when you continue flying. Eventually, you hit some kind of ceiling. All of Thanador is like one big room.


    The second academic huffed. “The how do you explain ending up on the east side of the continent when you continuously travel west? Why didn’t those dwarves fall from the sky when they dug down to the bottom of Thanador?”


    Sable shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe there are things we just don’t know about the world.”


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The two academics and Sable then broke out into a heated argument. Holden just ordered a drink while watching in amusement as his companion attempting to keep up with the two academics. This debate continued until everyone heard the door to the tavern burst open, and a loud, deep voice shouting Holden and Sable’s names.


    The academics and Sable qquieted down, and every head in the tavern turned toward the door, where a large minotaur was standing. It was Durik, the minotaur who Holden and Sable had helped prove his innocent of the murder of the tavern owner who had held Sable, the red pixie, and several other fey creatures captive.


    Durik spotted Holden, and walked up to him. “Mr. Holden, I’ve been looking for you. Where is your companion? The cait-sith that you keep as a pet.”


    Sable’s jaw fell open. OI can assure you sir that I am no one’s pet.”


    Sable had been in the Red Sun Tavern often enough that all of the regulars knew he was a cait-sith. However, Durik and Sable hadn’t officially met yet, so all the mnotaur heard and saw was a regular black cat meowing at him. “What’s with the cat?”


    The question caused the whole tavern to burst out in laughter. They had all gotten so used to Sable that many had forgotten only those with magic could see and hear him for what he truly was.


    One of the patrons decide to speak up to help the minotaur out. “That cat is Sable. He’s also the famous singing cat. And the cat who declared himself a god atop the statue of the Sage of Commerce.”


    The tavern burst out into laughter yet again, causing Sable to shrink back in embarrassment. “Why do you all have to bring up my shame?”


    Durik was taken aback for he now noticed the blue gem on Sable’s head, and was able to understand what the cait-sith was saying. “Oh, uhm. My apologize for mistaking you for some ordinary house cat. Holden, Sable, I need to speak to you both about a job. It is of the upmost importance. And the upmost secrecy.”


    Oh-ho,” the patron from earlier said. “The cat and his owner are moving up. Secret missions and what not.”


    Sable growled at the patron, who name was Jack. “Oh, shut up, Jack.”


    Jack smirked at the cait-sith. Holden then gestured toward a back door, and led Durik and Sable though. The door opened to a private room with nothing more thn a small table and chairs. Holden had been a patron of the Red Sun Tavern ever since he arrived in Chrimoria, and the owner would allow him to use this room whenever someone came in looking to hire Holden.


    Holden took a seat in one of the chairs, Sble sat on the table itself, while Durik just stood across from them with his arms crossed.


    Durik began to explain why he was looking for them. “I’ve been sent by the director of the Mages Uinion to hire you.”


    Holden’s eyes went wide with shock. “The director of the Mages Union. What would she want my help with? I’d imagine any mystery that a PI like myself could solve, she could solve just as easily with her divination magic.”


    “Yes, well, the Chrimoria Police Department is in a bind at the moment.” Durik then lowered his voice in case anyoe was eaves-dropping. “Several important people from the Chrimoria government have gone missing, including a certain prosecutor you are well acquainted with.”


    Holden’s entire body froze for a moment. Elliandra was missing, along with several other key government officials. He hadn’t been in touch with Elliandra ever since the two of them saw each other in the market when Sable had some catnip and started acting like some high and mighty god on top of the Sage of Commerce’s statue. It had been only a couple of days, so it wasn’t unusual for the two of them not to see each other in such a short length of time. This would also explain why the police weren’t going out of their way to help Randy track down his missing manuscript the day before.


    Holden took a second to collect himself so his emotions wouldn’t run wild. He was worried for his friend’s safety, but he couldn’t let those emotions get out of hand. Otherwise, it would cloud his judgement. “So, the director hasn’t been able to locate them using her divination magic. And the rest of the Chrimoria Police Department has come up empty handed, too. What makes her think I’ll. I’m sorry, what makes her think Sable and I will be able to find them?”


    Durik shrugged his shoulders. “The director said that she has faith in you. That’s all.”


    “I’ve never even met the director. Why have faith in some PI from out of town, and a cait-sith who’s only known for his hilarious street performances?”


    “Hey,” Sable said. “You make me sound like I’m some sort of circus clown, or a street magician with nothing to offer.”


    “Let’s be honest,” Holden said. “You and I are nothing special in the grand scheme of things. We don’t have the resources and manpower that the police have. We aren’t backed by anyone particularly influential or well-informed. Our network of informants are just a bunch of everyday people who owe us favors without any skills that could match what the director already has access to. This whole thing seems odd.”


    “Are you not going to help?” Durik asked, curious why Holden seemed to be fighting this.


    “I’ll help,” Holden sighed. “Elliandra and I are friends. If she’s in danger, I’m going to save her. Things just don’t add up. Puts me on edge.”


    “It baffles me, too,” Durik admitted. “The director hired me to be her bodyguard after you proved my innocence. She does a lot of things that don’t make sense. Her faith inyou being one of them. Uh, no offense.”


    “None taken. Logically, it doesn’t make any sense. But I guess I’ll take the job. Just tell her not to expect much.”


    “Very well. She also said that’d she’d like to speak to the two of you, if you decide to take the job. I’ll escort you to the Mages Union.”


    Holden and Sable looked at one another and sighed. They could already tell this wasn’t going to be an easy case, and they both had this burning feeling that danger was waiting around every corner.