Chapter 25Tame Weorth, Mercia, 726 AD
“What's going on in West Seax, Leofwig?”
King Aethelbald's instincts told him that here was an opportunity to further his ambitions too appetising to miss.
“Sire, King Ine has thrown the south into turmoil. He means to give up his throne and embark on a pilgrimage to Rome.”
“Ha! With Wihtred dead, the Suth Seax in foment and now Ine playing the devout Christian, the way is open for me to regain Lunden for Mercia. But I'll need to move carefully. What do you advise, old fox?”
Ealdorman Leofwig, who owed his wealth to the king's appreciation of his wits, smiled grimly.
“Sire, it's not the might of Mercia that will win the day,” he did not fail to notice the flicker of wrath in the royal countenance at these words, “but the threat of the might of Me
