"Yes." Istredd is not someone to sugarcoat things. "The tension isn't new. Historically, Thorne used to own all or most of the continent. A rebellion gave the Free Cities and Solvunn their independence. The previous royal family was assassinated for losing the territory about a thousand years ago."

He feels like the fill in the blank there might be easy, and she seems like a very sharp person. Thorne believes the land rightfully theirs and the royal family has reason to think they should gain it back. But the rebels feel otherwise, and maybe want payback of their own. That is why the friction is not going anywhere.

"I wish I had better news, but I try not to lie to newcomers. If you're going to live here, you should know the situation."