Characters Click on the character name for a pic! Aidan Cameron Bastard son of Prince Iared and Moira Cameron, a serving girl and tramores (=gypsy). He inherited a very small portion of "magical" powers from his mother, but not really enough to do anything with. His mother died when he was a boy, which was when he learned that Prince Iared was his father. He was taken into the Prince's household but always felt out of place there, which often makes him angry and bitter, providing his sharp tongue and quick with ample exercise. He feels mostly resentment for his father, since he can't inherit despite being the Prince's eldest son. Iared ab Iarward Prince (=baron) of the region Tangnafedd in northern Rhyddion, married to Lady Elaine of Rouviére. A very honest, cautious and upright man, he's an excellent ruler in times of peace but secretly feels inept when civil war threatens his reign. For warfare, he relies on his captains and advisors more than on his own tactical genius. He feels a similar unease around Aidan; he was sixteen when Aidan was conceived and never truly got to terms with having to raise him after Moira's death. Aidan is not making things any easier for him. Dylan ab Iared Iared's eldest legitimate son, four years younger than Aidan. He was old enough to see Aidan as an intruder when he entered the Prince's household, and their relationship was always one filled with envy, unease, sometimes even outright loathing. Adenydd verch Iared Iared's daughter, five yours younger than Aidan, doesn't care if her brother's a bastard or not. She loves him very much, and vice versa--with the usual fraternal quarrels. Her heart, however, belongs to Rhys ab Huw. Llywelyn ab Iared Iared's youngest son, eight years younger than Aidan; he adores Aidan for being everything he wants to be: an adult, and a warrior. He grows up during the course of the story by necessity; at times, he displays quirks of pure tactical genius. Aidan is very fond of him; there are few people for whom he cares as much as for Llywelyn. Rhys ab Huw Aidan's best friend. Rhys is the son of the Prince's most trusted advisor and they already were friends before either of them knew Aidan was the Prince's son. Rhys is a year older and acts it; he's a fine soldier and leader, responsible and sensible (much more so than Aidan). Supporting cast: Keith An old ranger in the mountains, who takes Aidan with him to spy on coblyn (=goblin) activities north of Tangnafedd. Lady Enid A lady of Iared's court Aidan fell in love with, but who dumped him because she didn't want to marry a bastard. Now married to another Prince of the realm (forty years her senior). King Iago ap Bleidd: The current king of the realm of Rhyddion, but with a shaky claim to the throne as his father was bastard-born and seized the throne some thirty years before. Gwylim ap Bleidd: Iago's younger brother. Kynan ap Dewin: Pretender to the throne, son of the king Bleidd supplanted. When he returns from exile in Corman (=England) to regain his throne, he starts a civil war in Rhyddion, backed by the Church as well as the Cormish King. Gruffudd ap Kynan: Kynan's son and heir, born and raised in Corman. Tarreint: Kynan's advisor, a tramorwr (gypsy-magician) of considerable power. Branwyna member in Tarreint's extensive tramorwr spy network, and a tramores herself.