"I will not show you the disrespect, Your Highness, of pretending that we can be wholly certain merely to soothe your understandable concerns. ...however, if there is malice at the heart of this, it seems to be a most inconsistent, halfhearted malice. A number of us are here from the moment before death, reunited with family whom they might never have seen again; nor does death seem to have any hold on us, here. I cannot find the malice in that--at least, not directed toward us. I suspect we are meant less to be imprisoned than..."

He trailed off momentarily, glancing aside as he searched for the best word.

"...'recruited,' perhaps, although I could scarcely begin to guess for what purpose. Quite rudely recruited, as well, I will admit, but I've seen no sign of ill will, yet. Certainly not from the people native to this place."