"Indeed I am," Alaric says. "And yes, I've increasingly gotten that impression, even beyond the usual difficulties that can impede travel between calendrical regimes. It's not exactly a terribly tourism-friendly government. There's plenty of very friendly people at the individual level, but the systematic torture, murder, and torturous murder is a bit off-putting."

Remembering he was talking with a magistrate, although apparently not a very good one, he added, "No offense intended."

(Sorry, I misunderstood that.)