Chapter 95: A Time For Every Matter Under The Heavens

*…this is not to say that all of Ingerman's early espionage actions were missteps.  While her first year as Berk's spymaster featured a large number of missed opportunities, other opportunities were seized on, including the creation of a network of information gatherers paralleling the initial Dragon Mail routes and the uncovering of several plots against Berk.  Still, her early focus was, unsurprisingly, more on the recruitment of information sources and potential field agents.  It was not until later that the need for analysts and organizational clerks became apparent in the face of the scope of Berk's potential fields of interest across Europe and beyond.*

*These early days of the North Sea Empire's intelligence services offer a valuable case study in the field of espionage when it comes to the scale of an intelligence service.  Many of the feudal spymasters of the European kingdoms were around Ingerman's initial levels of sophistication, but their concerns tended to be provincial at the behest of their feudal lords and thus needed no further sophistication beyond what could be handled by a single person or at most a small group of people.  Berk, in aiming for a sphere of influence spanning an entire continent and beyond, required an espionage service scaled to suit.  As such, seeing the early failures and successes of Ingerman's tenure—and the inspirations and lessons that she drew upon, from her husband, her mentor, her fellow agents, and even the more sophisticated espionage services of the Byzantine Empire, the Vatican, and beyond—is a potent reminder of not overreaching one's institutions and structuring them to fit the actual needs facing that institution.*

*—Statecraft: The Great Game Of Diplomacy, Espionage & War By Other Means, 1732, Rouen University Press*

## Major Events

* Sigurd, Sophia, Gunnar and Heidrun have a heart to heart talk before Sophia has to return home. Both Sophia and Heidrun reveal they are bisexual.
* Seoc of the Berserkers is executed under Dagur's orders for violating hospitality by attempting to rape Toireasa.
* Johann reveals to Heather that he sold the refined oleander poison to Eochaid of Ulaid.
* Hakon sees a game of iománaíocht (hurling) and gets the idea to have the Eirish compete in a competition of the game as the best way to distribute dragon dung fairly.
* The Makris family sends a courier to Sigurd to begin discussing the marriage and wedding details between him and Sophia.

## Characters

### Humans

* Sigurd Spiteloutsson
* Sophia Makris
* Inga Roswynnsdóttir
* Heidrun Hallvarsdóttir
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Toiréasa
* Rodhlaug nic Savage
* Dagur mac Oswald
* Seoc (first appearance; only appearance)
* Savage
* Alexios Makris
* Heather
* Atali
* Johann
* Esther bat Rivkah
* William of Normandy
* Asta Rhonda Hiccupsdóttir
* Gothi Hiccupsdóttir
* Wulfhild of Norway
* Bladewit Drorsdóttir
* Hákon Mortensson
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Fishlegs clan Ingerman
* Fintan mac Ionatan
* Seán mac Kåre, ropemaker (first appearance)
* Niall mac Garbhán, papermaker (first named appearance)
* Lóegaire mac Conchobar ua Magh Luirg, luthier (first appearance)
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Valka Zephyr Hiccupsdóttir

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph mentions Heather uncovering several plots against Berk. The chapter shows Heather speaking with Johann to find out who sent the assassin to Berk's Thawfest Festival.