Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 119: Departing for war

Alpheo strode through the gates of the city, the rough cobblestones under his boots giving way to the dusty expanse of the training yard just outside the walls. The clang of steel and the grunts of men filled the air, as soldiers drilled relentlessly under the midday sun. His eyes scanned the field, lingering on the formations of infantry and mounted men. At the far end, Alpheo spotted Jarza, overseeing a group of officers instructing the recruits.

Jarza stood with his arms crossed, his expression stern as he observed the men clumsily trying to mimic the precise movements of the more seasoned fighters. As Alpheo approached, Jarza shifted his stance slightly but didn't look up until Alpheo was beside him.@@novelbin@@

"How do things look?" Alpheo asked, his tone low but curious, eyeing the chaos of the yard as weapons swung in poorly coordinated arcs.

Jarza let out a slow breath, shaking his head in mild frustration. "A mess," he muttered, scratching his beard. "I'm at a loss with these greens. Most of them are farmhands , never held a proper weapon before, and now they're expected to fight with hammers and maces." He gestured toward a group of men awkwardly swinging heavy hammers, their footwork clumsy and their strikes too wide to be effective.

"These weapons require more technique than they think," Jarza continued, his voice betraying a hint of irritation. "They assume it's just about strength, but with hammers and maces, you need precision and control. Right now, they're just flailing."