"I'm sorry," Adala said, as her mind struggled to keep up with the things Lady Ashlynn was saying. "Did you just ask if I want to be the next Baroness Leufroy? I understand if you don't want my father to continue to rule our barony after everything he's done, but Tulori is next in line."
"Didn't you just tell me that Tulori is a spineless, conniving wretch?" Ashlynn asked lightly. "Why would I want someone like that to rule over part of my domain?"
"Continuity? Tradition?" Adala said, falling back on things that had been drilled into her during her days in the academy. But those were almost reflexive answers, and once she started actually thinking, a better one came to mind.
