This may relate to the earlier discussion of the East. As I recall (which is not very well, having read but not liked the Key) Cynan was from Karsten's Old Race. The raiders who attacked him certainly weren't; I recall thinking that they were Karstenians, but I don't know that I've got any good reason to believe that. Although this takes place some time (don't know how much) after the triplets "opened" the East, I'm not sure whether Cynan fled East after the opening or just after the Horning. Maybe I'll have to look at the book again, too . . . in any event, this is evidence (from a non-Norton source) for some connection between the East (albeit south of what seems to be Escore proper) and Karsten.