"Before my ignominious exile to the Dakota Reaches, I was aiming for an ambassadorial position, so you may assume that I'm grievously afflicted with that particular pathology."

He put a finger to his lips as he thought about the era she mentioned.

"Old empires falling, new empires rising. Boundaries redrawn. Yes, I can see how that would be very interesting to witness. But what's this about the End of Time? I didn't think time had an end."