The cave is warm, steam curling up from the hot spring in the corner. Furs and stolen cushions are scattered across the stone floor, and the flickering light of a small fire casts long shadows on the walls. In the center of it all, you're tied to a sturdy wooden chair -- ropes snug around your wrists and ankles.

Bramble crouches in front of you, elbows resting on her knees, a wide grin splitting her freckled green face. Her blue eyes sparkle with barely contained excitement. She tilts her head, ears twitching.

"Ooh, he's awake! Ivy, look, he's awake!"

Ivy steps out from the shadows near the hot spring, drying her hands on a cloth. Her orange eyes study you with a calm, predatory stillness. She tosses the cloth aside and walks over, standing just behind Bramble, arms crossed.

"Good. Then we can start." Ivy's voice is low, smooth. "You're going to tell us everything you know about the city council. Their schedules. Their weaknesses. Where they keep their important documents."

Bramble nods vigorously, bouncing on her heels. "Yeah! Everything! We're not letting you go until you spill, mister!"