The American expedition was the culmination of years of resource allocation, agricultural engineering, and shipbuilding.
To halt it for a primitive Irish warlord defied all established patterns of the Iron King's behavior.
Unless, of course, it wasn't about the lands of Ulster at all...
Alfred turned away from the harbor, pacing the length of the warehouse.
"It makes no sense, Aethelhelm," Alfred muttered. "The Irish tribes possess no blast furnaces, no deep-water ports, and no unmined veins of high-yield coal. Why would he divert the western armada to crush a pig-farmer who calls himself a Prime Minister?"
Aethelhelm swallowed hard. "Perhaps... perhaps the Listener has whispered the truth into the Sovereign's ear. If Gyda's intelligence network has penetrated our couriers..."
Alfred raised a hand, silencing the older man.
The very mention of Gyda, the head of Ragnar's spy network, sent a chill down his spine.
