Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

While men bled and died in the mud in her name, their swords clashing in distant battles, Jasmine Veloni-Isha, the newly crowned princess of Yarkat, sat in the quiet opulence of her chambers, reading the latest reports. Her brow furrowed slightly as her delicate fingers turned the pages of the ledger, detailing the autumn taxation from the royal fiefs.

Her emerald eyes skimmed over the figures, silently calculating the resources at her disposal.

The royal fiefs had yielded 6,000 bushels of wheat in taxation, a figure that brought a brief but fleeting sense of relief. This harvest, would not be sold for coins. Instead, she had decided that it would be stored in the royal granaries—an insurance against possible campaigns of war or the sudden grip of a famine.

A wise ruler must think of tomorrow, even as today crumbles around her, she mused inwardly, as she thought of the army standing outside Confluendi.

But wheat alone would not win wars, nor would it fill her vaults. Her attention shifted to the next section of the report, and her lips curled slightly in satisfaction as she read the tally of silverii brought in from her cities.

Yarzat, the capital, had contributed a substantial 3,000 silverii, bolstered by taxes on trade, craftsmen, and merchants. The surrounding cities—Aracina, Cedebo, and the newly acquired Asetocende, gifted from the Prince of Oizen through careful diplomacy—had yielded a combined total of 2,400 silverii.

Still, it wasn’t the taxes from her cities or even the tribute from her new acquisitions made through the rasonm from the Sorza that sparked true hope. Her eyes brightened as she reached the section on Alpheo’s workhouses, the legacy of the man whose victories were starting to bear fruit not just on the battlefield, but in the heart of her economy.

Soap, a simple commodity, had surprisingly turned into a treasure trove. ”One hundred pieces, sold at 5 silverii each...” Jasmine mentally calculated. ”Five hundred silverii. Not bad for a product that costs so little to make.” But even more lucrative was the apple cider, now sought after across the land. Two hundred pieces had sold, each bringing in 8 silverii, netting her an additional 1,600 silverii.

Two thousand one hundred silverii in a single month, Jasmine reflected, the numbers swirling in her mind.

And this... this is just from selling to my nobles. When the merchants from across the border catch wind of it, when these goods begin to flow into foreign markets.... She could almost see it—her coffers filling faster than any tax could provide, the apple cider becoming a symbol of luxury and wealth.

”Alpheo’s workhouses,” she muttered in a low tone ”Who would have thought that a warrior would become such a shrewd businessman? But I must give credit where it’s due.”

The soap and cider had already proven to be unexpected treasures, and she could see the beginnings of something much larger, something that could change the entire landscape of Yarkat’s economy.

We’ve only just begun, she thought, her fingers lightly drumming the armrest of her chair. Two thousand silverii in a month, and that’s with our current, limited production. If I speak with Alpheo... if we expand the means of production, invest in more workers, more facilities... The possibilities were endless, and her mind raced with the calculations.

Her lips curved into a thoughtful smile as she imagined the future. ’If we can increase output, not just a little, but significantly, the amount of coin coming in from trade will easily triple. At least.’ She could see it—workshops buzzing with activity, carts of soap and cider being shipped out to foreign lands, merchants from distant cities clamoring for her products.’We could become the trading center of the region. Not just known for our strength on the battlefield, but for the wealth flowing through our coffers.’

The thought excited her, the idea of turning Yarkat into a true economic power, built not just on force of arms but on commerce. ”I must speak to Alpheo soon,” she resolved. ”He may be a warrior, but he understands the value of this. With his knowledge of logistics and my plans for expansion, we could dominate the markets”

As Jasmine’s mind spun with visions of wealth and power, her thoughts tangled in the grand plans for Yarkat’s future, she unconsciously bit her lower lip, her mouth practically watering at the sheer volume of silver that would soon flow into the kingdom’s coffers. The possibilities seemed endless, each one more enticing than the last. She could barely contain the excitement—until a sudden knock echoed through her chamber door.

Startled from her daydream, Jasmine blinked, quickly composing herself. ”Enter,” she commanded, her voice steady despite her racing thoughts.

The door creaked open, and one of her personal guards stepped in, bowing slightly before delivering his message. ”Your Highness, a messenger bearing a letter from Lord Shahab has just arrived,” he reported, his tone respectful but urgent.

Jasmine’s expression shifted immediately. She rose from her chair with a fluid grace, brushing aside her thoughts of trade and wealth. ”Send him in at once,” she ordered, her curiosity now piqued. Lord Shahab must have sent the report about the siege

Moments later, the messenger entered. He was a young man clad in the colors and crest of House Filastin —her mother’s house. He knelt down as soon as he crossed the threshold, his head bowed low as he extended a sealed letter toward her. ”Your Highness, a message from Lord Shahab,” he said,

Jasmine’s fingers trembled slightly as she delicately broke the seal on the letter, the warm wax melting away to reveal the finely folded parchment. The crest of House Filastin—an elegant silver falcon—was embossed at the top.She turned to the messanger dismissing him, the man bowed and did as ordered closing the door behind him and leaving the princess alone in her room.

’’ To the Most Esteemed and Radiant Princess Jasmine of House Veloni-isha,

May the grace of the ancestors and the blessings of the stars shine upon you, illuminating your path in these uncertain times. It is with great reverence that I, Lord Shahab, your loyal vassal , take quill to parchment to convey both my greetings and my report about the good tide that the princedom has just experienced.

I trust this letter reaches you in good health and elevated spirits. It is my honor to provide a detailed account of the ongoing efforts in Confluendi, where your betrothed, Sir Alpheo, has been engaged in siege operations for nearly a month.

During this time, both our forces and the enemy have witnessed limited direct conflict. Under Sir Alpheo’s command, the siege has been conducted with great caution, avoiding unnecessary risks and or casualties. The royal general you have wisely appointed has chosen a deliberate approach, preferring to carefully lay the groundwork toward the city’s eventual fall. With each passing day, his forces have consolidated their positions, gradually tightening the grip around the city and ensuring its inevitable downfall.

Sir Alpheo had been overseeing the careful mining of the city’s outer walls, steadily weakening the very foundations upon which they stood. For over three weeks, his engineers worked tirelessly to destabilize the stone fortifications, knowing that time, rather than force alone, would bring about the city’s fall. Finally, on the twenty-third day since the operation began, their efforts bore fruit. The walls finally gave way, crumbling in sections and creating a wide breach through which our forces could launch a decisive assault.

Our forces, numbering 1,300 strong, with the last batch of recruits having come few days prior from my land , finally launched the long-anticipated assault on the city. Of these, 300 of soldiers coming from Lord’s Damaris fiefdoms, led the primary attack through the breach, under the command of Sir Leomar, the valiant son of Lord Damaris. Meanwhile, the remaining troops were spread thinly across the city’s perimeter, scaling the walls and engaging the defenders in various positions. The assault was bold and coordinated, but not without challenges.

The main assault on the breach, though fiercely executed, initially faltered. The defenders, bolstered by their desperation and the narrow terrain, managed to hold their ground, repelling wave after wave of attackers. The soldiers clashed violently, with neither side able to gain an upper hand for a time.

However, the real turning point came from the soldiers attacking the walls, scaling the defenses and overwhelming the city’s garrison on the battlements. Once the walls were taken, the tide of battle shifted dramatically. With the city’s defensive line compromised, the soldiers who had secured the walls quickly turned their attention to the forces defending the breach, catching them completely off guard.

In a devastating flanking maneuver, these troops descended from the captured walls, hammering into the exposed rear of the garrison, still holding the breach. The defenders, now attacked from both sides, were thrown into disarray. Within moments, what had been a stalemate turned into a rout, as the garrison broke ranks and fled, allowing Alpheo’s entire army to pour into the city unchallenged.

The remnants of the city’s defenders, seeing their forces routed and the walls breached, fled toward the keep—their final refuge in the chaos. As they retreated, the streets of Confluendi were overrun by the army’s troops, who wasted no time in sacking the city and taking their due.

By dawn the following day, the remaining defenders had barricaded themselves in the keep, but their resistance was short-lived. Alpheo’s forces besieged the keep . In just a few hours, it became clear that further defense was futile. The men inside, seeing the hopelessness of their situation, surrendered without much of a fight.

The bodies of Lady Elira and her son, Lord Cedric, were brought out to Alpheo’s forces. According to the survivors’ testimonies, after the fall of the city became inevitable, Lady Elira had chosen to poison both herself and her son, rather than see them fall into enemy hands. I express my condolences for the death of your grace’s cousin.

Following the surrender of the keep, a garrison of 200 men was left behind to hold the city and restore some semblance of order. With the sack completed and the spoils secured, the army gathered what they could—coins, valuables, food stores, and captured goods—and began their journey back to the court, triumphant, with the spoils of war in tow.

Your Grace, it is my deepest hope that this news brings you satisfaction and pride, knowing that the royal banner now flies above Confluendi, securing yet another victory for your reign.

May the gods continue to bless your rule and your endeavors.

Your loyal servant and grandfather,

Lord Shahab of House Filastin. ’’