1393 AF [Reign of Queen Selenay] Prince Ancar of Hardorn, a blood-path mage, murdered his father, King Alessandar, usurping the throne. He killed Herald Kris and imprisoned and tortured Queen's Own Herald Talia, blaming them for the king's death. Then he marched on the Valdemar border with a mercenary army and a mage, planning to take Selenay (who was en route for a state visit) by surprise. With help from her friend, the trader Evan, Talia and Rolan got a message to Selenay warning her. Evan and his nomadic relatives also spread the story of what really happened as they escaped the kingdom. This lead to the mass defection of the Hardornen border guard, who joined Selenay's troops in Valdemar. When Ancar attacked across the border, he was defeated. He made one more attempt at invasion that