While King Hrothgar is always ready to lead his followers into glorious combat, he also knows that some problems are better solved with a keen ear, a stealthy hand, and a silent step. Dresden is one of those that the king turns to in such situations.
Dresden was born the son of a Housecarl, who was slain when Dresdon was but a boy. Dresdon was brought into the king's household, where his skills for subterfuge were recognized by the spymaster, who took him into his tutelage. He remained the aging spymaster's favorite, until the spymaster disappeared two months ago. His new master doesn't seem to think much of the young upstart, and prefers to groom loyalty among the more seasoned skullduggers.
Dresden once saved a boy from local toughs; that boy is now a horse groom in the household of Jarl Brynhild (location D on the map).