Danzenn awoke in a cell by the light of the lanterns held by two guards. A womanly figure with circular glasses was seated at the other side of a table. Danzenn was tied to a chair, facing her. Tolst was tied as well, but on the floor and still unconscious. This was immediately peculiar.

“Interesting choice of book,” the figure said. “Any reason why?”

Danzenn didn’t see a reason to lie. At least, they didn’t feel one. This was also peculiar.

"I’m looking for information about the greybringers.”

“Ah, yes. You have reason to believe they’re real?” Some kind of glint flickered across her eyes in the lanternlight.

“That’s what I was hoping to find out.”

"There’s a lot you could find out with that book, which is why we can’t let you take it. It belongs here for a reason.”

“Is this the only copy?”

That glint again. “We have reason to believe so.”

“If this is some kind of forbidden information, why wasn’t it guarded more heavily?”

“Because that would bring attention to it. We prefer to hide things in plain sight. You can even read it, if you’d like. We just can’t let you leave with it. Any information within you must remember on your own.”

This wasn’t the outcome Danzenn was hoping for, but they weren’t about to try anything stupid just to escape with a book they weren’t sure they could translate properly. Danzenn glanced at Tolst, still unconscious.

“How come my friend’s on the floor?”

“There are only two chairs in here. Plus, he was being brash. It became obvious rather quickly who we would need to talk to.”

Danzenn felt oddly at ease. They must have been drugged. Par for course, they supposed. Tolst made a sound from the floor.

“The bondage is standard precaution. Your forgiveness is appreciated. You’ll be escorted from the cell once your friend wakes up. We’d give him something to speed that process up, but it’s not healthy for the heart.”

“Sibiscum, huh? You must have given him quite the dose.”

“Like I said, he was being brash. It’s proven adequate to speak with you uninterrupted. I’ll have the vigilants escort you to a room at the inn. The book, however, is to stay in the library. Normally, a qualification test is required before we allow entry into the area, but your actions and apparent motivation will be taken as proof of qualification. We expect no more trouble.”

“Fair enough,” Danzenn said. Tolst made a sound from the floor again, this time rolling over and opening his eyes.

"This is somehow the most comfortable I’ve ever felt tied up on the floor,” he said.