Upon arriving at the Mages Union, Holden, Sable, and Durik met with Alwin and Naomi in Naomi’s office at the top floor to share the information they had found. Alwin’s discovery was the most surprising to everyone there, since most people had never heard of delirium.


    Everyone glanced at Naomi, wondering if she knew anything about this mineral. Knowing exactly what was on everyone’s minds, she just closed her eyes and shook her head.


    “Regardless, we know of a potential method now,” Alwin said. “The issue is neither myself, nor the director can investigate the Hollows. It’s outside of Chrimoria’s jurisdiction.”


    “So that just leaves Sable and I,” Holden said, grateful that he had asked Ike to reach out to Atticus. “We have an associate who can help us if we need back-up, but we’re dealing with a Leudox hideout. More back-up will be necessary.”


    “Durik can go with you,” Naomi said. “He’s technically still a mercenary. Plus, you helped prove his innocence. We can say you hired him. Will that be okay with you, Durik?”


    “Of course,” the minotaur nodded. “I owe Holden and Sable my life. I’ll gladly follow them into danger.”


    With their next step settled, Holden, Sable, and Durik left Naomi’s office. They made their way outside of the Mages Union, where they found Atticus waiting for them. He was a lot less disheveled then before. Although his hair was still long, and his beard was grown out, Atticus was a lot more well-groomed. He was also wearing a clean set of leather armor, and had an iron sword on his hip. Furthermore, Atticus wasn’t alone.


    A young man by the name of Mathias. The very same man who Holden and Sable helped find his missing sword, was standing beside Atticus. Mathias grinned when he saw Holden and Sable leaving the Mages Union. “Well, if it isn’t my two heroes. I’m running into a lot of acquaintances today.”


    “Oh, look. It the kid who lost his sword,” Sable jeered. “I see it’s firmly on your hip now.”


    “Hey, kid,” Holden said. “What brings you here?”


    Mathias rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn’t sure exactly how to respond to Sable’s quip, so he just ignored the cait-sith’s comment and focused on Holden instead. “I ran into Atticus in the Undercity. I hardly recognized him at first, though.”


    “Make sense, I guess,” Holden replied. “But what brings you here?”


    “Atticus told me that he was going to help you with an assignment that required fighter. So I decided I’d see if you could use my help.” Mathias then caressed the hilt of his blade. “I do still owe you for helping me find this sword.”


    “That’s good timing. We were just about tohead out to the Hollows, and we could use all the help we could get. Though I should warn you,” Holden said holding up a cautionary finger. “We’re going up against the Leudox.”


    Mathias took a step back, stunned from hearing that name. “The Leudox. They’re one of Thanador’s largest criminal organizations. Just what did you all get caught up in?”


    Sable pawed at Mathias’s shins. “Getting cold feet?”


    “You aren’t obligated to help us,” Holden said. “They’re a dangerous organization, and you come from a small noble house far away from here. Trying to take them on could put you in unnecessary danger.”


    Mathias put his hand on his chest while he calmed himself down from the shock. “It’s certainly frightening thinking of the power the Leudox hold. But I shall repay my debts. I do come from a family of knights. Valor and honor shall be put above my own personal safety.”


    With Mathias joining the group, they now had four competent fighters. Even though, Holden had no idea what would be waiting for them in the Hollows, he was confident their little group would be able to make it there and back without issue. If they ran into an overwhelming force, they should be able to get away quickly.


    ***


    The Hollows was located south of Chrimoria. It was disputed territory between Chrimoria, the adjacent kingdom known as the Arclight Kingdom, and the city-state to the south called Lamyros. All three sovereign states laid claim to the Hollows, and attempted to settle the area around forty-five years ago. However, their attempts ended in a bloody conflict between those sent to settle the land, leading to an agreement that none would enter the disputed territory for fifty years.


    That being said, the agreement couldn’t prevent regular people from entering or exiting the area. Just the military forces, and governing officials of the three powers laying claim to the area. Because of this many criminals made the ruins of the old settlements into their dens. Although they were the typical thieves, gangs, or other organized crime groups you would find in Undercity. Rather, they were usually individuals who wanted to stay out of the public eye like murderers, rapists, escaped convicts, bandits, and other despicable types of criminals that had nothing to do with organized crime. The fact that an organization like the Leudox would have a base in the area was out of the ordinary, because there would be no end to the number of degenerates to deal with.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Holden and the others made their way into the marshes south of Chrimoria. The bog mist was thin that day, providing them with excellent visibility. They had to travel two miles on foot into the marshes until the finally left Chrimoria’s territory, and entered the Hollows. Even then, there was still some distance between the border of the two territories, and the settlement which was their goal.


    The area known as the Hollows was dozens of square miles. Fortunately, the settlement they were heading to only few hours hike away from Chrimoria itself. Holden and the others would be able to reach it before sundown, as long as they kept up a steady pace.


    “I’m not sure whether our arrival time will be a blessing, or a curse,” Holden said, tiptoeing around a large mud puddle on a trail leading through the marshes.


    Bleh! Sable said, looking at the mud puddle from atop Holden’s shoulders. “I can’t imagine why anyone would fight over a place like this.”


    Holden just ignored the cait-sith’s complain, carrying on with his original topic of conversation. “Night time is when all of the bandits come home. But its also when all of the rapists and murders have gone to the city. Not sure which I’d rather deal with.”


    Durik grunted at Holden’s complaint. “I’d rather burn the whole place to the ground. Or at the very least, behead ever degenerate we come across.”


    “There certainly won’t be anyone stopping you from doing that. It’s survival of the fittest out here in the Hollows. Though that means we’ll have to watch our backs.”


    “I’m just glad our group is only full of men,” Atticus said. “We’ll draw far less attention that way.”


    “I see what you mean,” Holden said. “Any woman going into a place like this would have to be a true warrior. Or so ugly know man would want to be with her.”


    Sable shook his head at Holden. “And what is your definition of a true warrior? You’re always saying how you’re no match for one. But I’ve seen you take on swordsmen before. You even defeated that Sorten the Saber guy.”


    “I’m pretty sure I said it before, Cat. A true warrior is someone who’s elite. Not your common military grunt, or beat cop.


    I can toy with those types all day. Someone like Durik here, though, I’d have to rely on stealth and underhanded tactics if I wanted to beat him in a fight.”


    Sable looked the minotaur up and down. He had bulging muscles, and a warrior’s physique. The minotaur looked like he could crush a boulder with his bare hands, or toss a man around like a ragdoll. Though the cait-sith had never seen Durik fight, he assumed he would annihilate anyone they came across. “I guess it’s a good thing we have the big guy with use. I’ve gotten used to it just being you and me.”


    Holden smirked. “Yeah. But most detectives aren’t usually the brawny types. We’re usually a good balance of smarts, and skill. Not big, bulky fighters like Durik. In fact, I think our little Mathias here might benefit from training your mind a little more.”


    Mathias’s eyebrows twitched from Holden’s comment. “Are you saying I don’t have enough talent with the sword?”


    “What I’m saying is you’re kind of a little guy. You’re strong for your size. But if you find yourself face-to-face with someone who has equal talent, but a larger frame, you won’t be able to win using brute force. You’ll have to rely on other tactics.”


    “You mean I’ll have to fight dirty? As I knight I find the idea appalling.”


    “Call it dirt, dishonorable, or cheating all you want. You chivalry won’t do you any good in a real fight. Especially against the kinds of people we’re going up against. Someone like Sorten the Saber will knock you out cold, and there’ll be quite a few of those types where we’re going.”


    “Well, if my sword is true, and my heart is pure-.”


    “Let me stop you right there,” Holden said, making a stopping gesture with his hand. “That’s all well and good. But whether you died with honor, or died using dirty tricks makes no difference. When you’re dead, you’re dead. And you won’t be able to protect the things you cherish unless you survive.”


    Durik nodded his head in agreement. “Although we minotaur are straight forward fighters, the man has a point. If the world were an ideal place we could all fight wars with our honor, and sense of righteousness intact. Unfortunately, this world is a much crueler place then I’d like to admit.”


    Mathias gave the minotaur a sideways glance. “In an ideal world their be no war, or no fighting.”


    Durik bellowed out a hardy laugh while slapping Mathias on the back. “I guess we have different ideas about what an ideal world looks like. For minotaurs, might makes right, so a world full of endless battles where we can prove our strength sounds like a paradise.”


    Sable sighed at the groups banter. “And here I am a weak little cait-sith. We can’t even use high ranking spells, much less develop the muscle mass needed for combat.”


    Durik laughed once again. “Don’t worry, little kitty. Like the detective was saying to the kid earlier, you can make up for your lack of brawn with your brain. Become so wise and knowledgeable that even a meat-head like me will see your value.”


    “I guess I’ll keep studying at the library then.”


    Holden smirked. “More like let Leryssa scratch your tummy while you purr like a kitten.”


    Sable almost coughed up a hairball after hearing those words coming from Holden, who sounded so sure of it that the cait-sith thought he had seen it himself. It was true that Leryssa would often end up petting Sable, scratching him behind his ears his belly, and just treat Sable like a cat in general. Though Sable would allow it to happen, that didn’t mean he like at. At least that’s what he told himself. In truth,t he cait-sith actually loved the attention, but there was no way he was going to admit it to Holden of all people. “You’re daft if you think Leryssa ever does that to me. Elves know better than to treat fey creatures like pets.”


    Everybody laughed at Sable’s defensiveness before Holden responded. “Sure. Whatever you say, Cat.”