The Sunsguard is the army of Karse, analogous to the Guard of Valdemar. The Voices of Vkandis select children at an early age to enter the cadet academies to be trained as Sunsguard officers. Once they are commissioned they joined the troops in the field. Promotion comes not only through meritorious service, but also political backstabbing. More than one officer has been stabbed, both literally and figuratively, by a subordinate wishing to rise through the ranks.
Alberich was a Captain in the light cavalry, fighting bandits along the Valdemar border, when he was Chosen and whisked away to Valdemar.