Lyan was a Shieldmaiden from Anklos, a city in northeastern Genabackis. There, she served the Batarius family, who had hired Caladan Brood to oppose the invading Malazans. As a child, she met Blues of the Crimson Guard. When she was older, she served under Brood himself. When the Malazans took Anklos, they removed the Batarius family from power and forced them into exile. The young boy Dorrin became king when his father died and Lyan was one of his bodyguards.