In the days when Keldor ruled Dynkyr alone, the Stonekin—whom others call gnomes—betrayed all the Besnir and bound themselves to the children of the Jotinir, who are called Giants. Our ancient kin joined with our ancient foe.
No treachery cut deeper.
For it was said that the grief in Dynkyr rivaled that of the day when our wives and daughters were taken from us. The Arvanaith rang not with song but with the beating of war-drums, and the names of the Stonekin were spoken with bitterness in every hall.
The Graetlings marched beneath banners wrought with devices of cunning metalwork, for the craft of the Stonekin now armed the giants. Engines were raised that hurled stone farther than before, and cunning traps were laid in the passes. What once had been shared knowledge was turned against us.
Keldor did not hesitate.
He entered the war at the head of his companies and bore the ancient silver axe of our forebears, the same that had been lifted in the first wars of the deep. The Stoneborn answered him without reserve. Though the giants wielded devices unknown in earlier days, and though the Graetlings struck with skill sharpened by gnomish artifice, the Stoneborn did not falter.
In three years the giants were broken and the alliance undone.
What became of the Stonekin in the aftermath is spoken of differently in different halls. Some say they fled; others that they were cast out; still others that their punishment was more enduring than death.
Yet in that same season great strides were made between the Fair Folk and the Stoneborn. For though there had long been mistrust, the threat of the Graetlings pressed ancient adversaries into counsel. Keldor was invited to the Parley of Selazzyne, and there peace was restored among the Fairy peoples themselves, who had been at cross purposes since the days of Fyveld.
Thus from betrayal came unlikely concord.
Keldor was Regn for two and twenty and two hundreds of years before he died. He was succeeded by Morgrim the Regn.
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