Are dismounted cavalry allowed? Because when I'm playing native, I play Swadians or else just roam about with a mercenary company.
Actually, I just couldn't cope with watching Swadians try to get by without cavalry.
Mercenaries, then. I'm fond of mercenary cavalry, but two thirds hired blades and a third mercenary crossbowmen would do. Not terribly exciting, but hired blades are solid, at least, if rather expensive. Perhaps a handful of dismounted caravan guards to have the occasional voulge being swung about (that's what they carry, right?).