In the first chapter of Visage of Scars I reference a character named Dallet who is the most notorious con-man in all of Ker. I decided early on that I would include a section about him in the appendices, this is the very beginning of his story.
Thallen was the King of Belri when Galvant and Ethian ascended to the two thrones of Ker. Underestimating the resolve of his young neighbors and purposing to extend his lands for the sake of his son, he moved an army across the Fornor mountains against the plains city of Dyar. When the Belriån army began its traverse of the Ferrn Pass they found it guarded by two Laakseyd wardens, and though one was slain his death allowed the other to make his way to the plains and warn of the invasion.
The warden Bendarik found King Ethian making a tour of the plains cities, the king immediately sent messengers to raise a levy. The people of the plains flocked to the banner of their new king and Ethian divided them into two armies, one he sent to Dyar under the command of the surviving Laakseyd warden; the other he led himself to the Ferrn pass. Thallen’s army was met outside the southern walls of Dyar and broken when Bendarik slew Thallen before the steps of the gate. The army of Belriån was pursued all the way back to the Ferrn pass where Ethian and the rest of the plainsmen awaited them.
Garrian, a knight of Belriån took command of the broken host and sought to break through the barrier erected across the pass. After five valiant charges against the much greater force Garrian saw the army under the command of Bendarik approaching against the rear of his force. Gathering the remnants of the men of Belriån around him he made one last assault against the solid front of the plainsmen and through sheer desperation broke through five ranks of that army before being assailed by Ethian himself. Mourning the blood of Belriån, Garrian and his remnant surrendered in the gates of the pass; no one among them was unscathed.
Garrian was brought to King Ethian on a litter, he leaned on two men to stand, “I fear that the blood of Belriån has been all but spent this day, I feel in my heart that we must call upon the people of Ker to possess our lands.”
The King grasped Garrian by the shoulders, “The blood of Belriån is still strong, let us forget the blood that lays between us. We will return you to your people, Belri will flourish yet.”
Then Garrian cried freely for he had seen many men die that day, his tears moved the King greatly and Ethian had in his heart to escort the shattered remnant home. He dismissed the greater part of the plainsmen to their homes leaving only 100 men with Bendarik to once again guard the Ferrn pass. He sought to escort the remnant of Belriån alone, but, fearing treachery the army of the plains chose 5,000 men to escort him; and the great host took a sennight to travel the pass and reach Belriån.
Now Thallen’s son, Dathon, had not yet attained his manhood and Belriån was in the charge of the steward Imgladell, a faithful steward who loved the prince. Upon seeing the host approaching from afar with the standard of Ethian before that of Belri he believed that an army was come to conquer the city. There were no knights in the city for they had all gone with the King to capture Dyar. Without hope for succor Imgladell threw open his gates before the approaching armies. But he feared in his heart for the life of the Prince and after arranging with a merchant to oversee the expected surrender he took the Prince and fled south in rags.
