There's some commonality between Bastien's approach here and the way Wysteria enters a conversation that Ellis will find a little funny after the fact. And, mispronunciations aside, Ellis is quietly pleased that Bastien enjoyed the story. The book had felt like a gamble, and so had the pamphlet. It had been difficult to tell if Bastien cared very much for books at all.

"It's new to me," Ellis answers, turning his plate to silently offer the second, untouched piece of toast to Bastien. Possibly also cooled by now, but potentially less objectionable than cool porridge. "I haven't spent enough time in Fereldan towns to know exactly what's being recited these days."

The urge to ask isn't there someone else you'd rather eat breakfast with? hasn't fully passed, but it strikes Ellis as rude enough that he refrains from asking.

Instead, diplomatically: "How does it compare to the stories that come out of Orlais?"