Agustria was a gorgeous country, pausing to admire the rising mountains, green fields, and furled flowers off the road. The farthest Tailtiu ever traveled, with Father Claud of all people. Not her family, Azel or Lex — running off without her, told in a late letter — but the Father! "Hey, Claud," she started, her favorite way to get his attention, "you ever been out of Grannvale?"
"I have been to the Tower before. Younger days, with my parents." Tailtiu had no memory of ever seeing the previous Lord and Lady of Edda, but gathering in Belhalla bored her; being a bit younger than Claud didn't help. "I take it you have not?"
Weirdly forward for the Father. "No, I have not. What gave it away?"
Claud smiled, catching a flash of his teeth, different from his typical smiles. "A presumption on my part."
"Should you be presuming things, Father?"
"No. Forgive me for it."
"I think I can." She adjusted her grip on her tomes. Claud walked one step to her two. "Are you going back to Edda after this?"
"In time. Should Lord Braggi grant me a revelation, I must speak with His Maj-"
"Can I visit Edda?"
"You may."