"Laertes and I are both of Denmark, yes. You'll test my history sorely, before we've even begun our other lessons," Claudius says wryly. "It's connected to valkyries, yes? Valkyries are supposed deliver the noble dead to Valhalla -- those who died in battle. No matter how Christian the Danes become, I think they still believe it's the noblest thing to die on a battlefield, and pity anyone who dies in their sheets in a time of peace ..." Oh. Wait. He looks Magnus over again. "My apologies. That was a misstep, diplomatically." Did you die in a war? is not a question it's easy to ask delicately.