Arkady was born in Shadow. His mother, Galina, Benedicts wife, arrived in Amber with him (aged 1) and a letter from Benedict requesting that Corwin would raise Arkady 'as Benedict would wish'. Corwin did. Arkady lived in castle Amber with his mother, and became friends with some of the other children of the Elders, Nikolai, Reynard, Jynx, Lucian and Connal, gaining the nickname 'Sabre' from them.
Benedict visited every 3 or 4 years and sometimes took him off for holidays in shadow. When Arkady was 16 Benedict took him into Shadow and taught him technology, magic and other useful skills.
Arkady walked Pattern in Amber at 18, but unlike the others Corwins fear for Benedict meant he was able to choose not to swear loyalty to Corwin before this. He then spent some time exploring Shadow before returning to Amber and spending about 2 years in each of the Navy (originally as a lieutenant, quickly rising to the rank of Captain) and the Rangers (coming to be in change of the whole eastern frontier of Arden, under Julian).
Galina died during this time, committing suicide by jumping off one of the castle towers after years of abuse from Corwin (neither Arkady nor Benedict knew the full extent of this, as Galina was playing it down, and so they were unable to help in time to save her).