Born in Cairhien, Anton was a young child at the time of the Aiel War. A son of a farmer, his family fled to the City when the first savages came. His father and older brothers enlisted in the army, but when the City was over-run, his remaining family headed west with the flood of refugees. They stopped for a short time in Caemlyn, but were treated poorly, and did not truly find a safe place to settle until they reached Amadicia.

In Amadicia, Anton reached adulthood, and learned to hunt. As a young man, he spent time following Parties of the Children of Light around, and learning what they could teach him. Eventually, involvement with the Children got him into trouble with wolves, and spurred him on to travel the world.

Making use of his skill as a hunter to pay for his clothing and housing, Anton spent a good deal of time traveling in the vicinities of Tar Valon, Andor, and Tear. While traveling, he gathered information about his homeland in Cairhien, and when he determined that it was safe to return, he did so.

Since returning to Cairhien, Anton spent much time developing his abilities as a merchant, often traveling down to Tear to sell goods from his work in Cairhien.

On one such trip, met a man named Toranga in an inner city tavern in Caemlyn. Toranga enlisted Anton in the Illuminators Guild, and for a few years, Anton studied the art, and performed for small crowds in Andor, Tear, and Cairhien.

When the King opened up conscription to the Rising Sun, Anton felt a strong calling to enlist as his father and brothers once had. But he had concerns that by now he might be too old and not up to the task. He went to speak with his cousin Elricain, a man he greatly admired, for advice on the matter. And the rest is history.