Some three years past, a Dark Elf armada made landing on the shores of Lyonesse. Caught unprepared, Leondegrance sent out several of his knights to return as swiftly as possible with as many troops as they could bring to aid in the fight against Cordain, the Dark Elf Admiral.

Sir Darin was one of the knights who had answered that call. He rode swiftly for Artois, hoping to implore the Duke of Artois to lend his aid (or at the very least delay him long enough that he would not make it back in time for the butchery).

Riding through the wood, he found a man with a sword and bow standing in the middle of the road.

"There is a toll to use this road, good Sir Knight...I fear that it will amount to...whatever you have in your belt pouch there."

Enraged, Sir Darin was about to leap to attack, but remembering Leondegrance's command, he suddenly happened upon an idea.

"Insolent peasant! Know that I am the representative of the Duke of Lyonesse, and by his word, I order you, and any companions who might join you, to march to Lyonesse and aid in the Duke's battle against the Dark Elves. Make yourself a banner, and march there under these colors," he said as he gestured to his own garments, "to let them know for whom you march!"

"Me and any companions who might join me?"

"That's what I said...are you bereft of wit?"

"Under...THOSE colors?"

"Under these colors, or none at all, and be cut down as a brigand."

"And will I receive a full pardon for my deeds if I do so?"

"Yes, yes, whatever...I have other recruits to gather."

"You hear that, boys? We're going to get a pardon!"

And with that, the trees and bushes on either side of the road came alive, and a score of men appeared as if by magic. An arrow shot struck Sir Darin's crest from his helm. Darin tried to break loose of the ambush, but a crack on the head by Hugo knocked him out cold.

"Alright then. Men, we march to save the Duke! You there...Gaston...put his crest upon a stave-pole. After all...'under these colors, or none at all.'"

Bertrand and his companions went on to have a major part in the battle, and Leondegrance honored Sir Darin's word, even though it wounded his pride greatly to let such an infamous bandit loose. And that is how, for a time, Bertrand came to be in service to the Duke of Lyonesse, and how he found his standard.

(Sir Darin has never been heard from since)

'tis said that on occasion, certain rebelious Squires have been known to serve in Bertrand's band as well.

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