ARNKEL
Arbiter of the House
Upstanding and vigorous, Halli’s father has little time for his son’s mischievous antics.

ASTRID
Lawgiver of the House
Halli’s mother is stern and unyielding, and determined to improve the fortunes of the farm.

LEIF
Their elder son
Leif is bullish, unimaginative and swaggeringly confident of his own importance.

GUDNY
Their daughter
A cool, passionless girl, Gudny is rather irritated by Halli’s zest for life.

HALLI
Their younger son
Small, stocky, impudent and energetic, Halli is bored by the peaceful
ways of Svein’s House, and yearns for an opportunity to prove himself equal to the heroes of old. He gets his chance, but not in the way he expects…

KATLA
Halli’s nurse
An ancient, white-haired, bark-skinned crone who teaches Halli the
lore and legends of the valley.