Lorren

A whoreson, no one knew who his father was. Given his mother's time in the woods and his own pale, colorless grey eyes, the townfolks teased that he was a son of the Bekje. The wicked spirits of the wild, with their ghostly eyes, were nothing more than superstition to keep naughty children in line. Of course, at the same time, they'd never really seen anyone with eyes like that before; at least, not in those parts. People who enjoyed the superstition and fantasy tended to take a strong interest in him. The only one of any real importance was some high born of house Ul Faantir. 

Because of that, he was able to make a little money doing small tasks for the manor. He was able to do more as he grew, but his mother passed when he was only 11. Ul Faantir took him in, in a way. He stayed in the servant's quarters and worked full time. It also gave him the opportunity of a small education. He learned to read with access to some of the books in the manor library and the occasional guidance from a fawning lord. The man's affections became awkward in the following years.

Then, when he was fifteen, came the Night of Fire. He didn't rise up against the great Houses, but he didn't do anything to stop it either. He hid, and when the bloody invaders found him, a cowering, common-blood boy of no threat, they left him to search the house for any survivors. He managed to escape the fire, though he almost lost his life to the smoke and flames while trying to make off what books and treasures he could carry. It was a poor way to honor the dead, especially after they had made his life easier, but he needed it more than they did, then.

Back in his village, he ran into the same old wandering merchant that always tried to buy him from his mother. At least this time he was old enough to speak for himself. They were able to strike a bargain. He had goods, and he could read well enough, could write less well. He could also work. In exchange, the merchant would teach him how to take care of himself without having to plow fields and scrub floors.