Condottieri (singular condottiero and condottiere) are not just mercenaries, but the leaders of groups of professional military "Free Companies". In the Witcher saga, king Esterad Thyssen of Kovir and Poviss released some political prisoners formerly known as the "Sly cats" on the condition that they support the efforts to push back the Nilfgaardian invasion at the battles of Mayena and Brenna.