Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 225: Messy affairs

Chapter 225: Messy affairs

Before the age of absolutism—when monarchs centralized their power so thoroughly that few institutions or nobles dared to oppose them—wars involving entire kingdoms were far from streamlined, often as chaotic as they were brutal. Unlike later national conflicts, where the full resources of a state could be marshaled by a single ruler with sweeping control, wars in earlier centuries were deeply shaped by the delicate and often volatile relationships between kings and their vassals, which many times made it so that the leader of an army, more than a military commander was the head of a confederation of forces each with his own voice , as he had to always heed his ear to the bigger opinion in the camp least he faced the fragmentation of their army before battle.

In those times, a king's call to war did not automatically signify the united strength of his entire realm. Instead, his success depended largely on the loyalty, ambition, and resources of the lords beneath him. A strong and respected king could wield significant influence, rallying his vassals not just with orders but with his authority. Such a king could command a sizable force, as his vassals were more willing to heed his call, seeing it as aligned with their own interests or, at the very least, out of deference to his power.

In contrast, a weaker monarch faced a very different reality. When a king was perceived as ineffectual or lacking in authority, his summons could be met with reluctance, delay, or outright defiance. Powerful lords might hesitate to commit their forces or might negotiate terms more favorable to their personal ambitions, viewing the king's weakness as an opportunity to expand their own power or resist his influence. In such cases, what was supposed to be a "national" war quickly splintered into a bid to get as many supporters as possible

Alpheo's position in Yarzat, while outwardly powerful, was complicated by the realities of his low-born status, apart fromt the fact that he was a kingslayer . Unlike a king who inherited generations of noble blood and the unspoken authority that came with it, Alpheo's word alone did not carry the weight it might have had he been born to one of the great houses. This lack of noble lineage made some of the princedom's lords slow to heed his commands, and, as a consequence, even the words of his wife—the rightful ruler—could fall upon stubborn ears unwilling to bend.

It wasn't that Alpheo himself was weak. On the contrary, he was a formidable leader, a man of proven strength and sharp tactical prowess. Even the lords that would spat at his name would not deny his effectiveness with martial matters.

His military background ensured that any individual lord thinking of crossing him would pause, aware of the personal risk of defying a seasoned commander who could call upon a loyal corps of elite soldiers at any time. Alpheo's forces and reputation as a skilled warrior were enough to keep most potential challengers in line, at least individually.