Depends on how many u have available, mercs seem to lack players or brains, dont know which. Since u are constantly using ur fiefowners when u go to battle - which means u have no lords where and when they are mostly needed. But hey, you will get Rivacheg back soon im sure, and Sargoth, who needs that if u should loose it in the next couple of days. Oh, and Alburq and Jeirbe castle, Sillycum and Idzo must really like to be out and around.
The only merc in the whole north that actually seem to take his job as a lord seriously is Merc_blackholes, no matter when our scouts has passed by Wercheg, he is standing there like the Buckingham palace guards. But now, he is has been drawn out to Ruvar over nothing.
But I guess there is a dimension of your strategy that I dont understand yet, perhaps I will....but while Im learning.....we decided to take one of your cities and one castle...hope thats ok?