Adam is an 11-year-old boy attending a Catholic boys' school in 1294 England. He deeply loves his father, his harp, and his red spaniel, Nick. He prefers playing music and reciting stories over formal education, eager to leave school and join his father as a traveling minstrel. He possesses an optimistic nature and strongly desires to entertain and please his audience.

Roger is a highly skilled, well-respected minstrel who entertains the nobility with tales of chivalry and romance. He provides for Adam and teaches him the etiquette and skills required to survive as a performer. Despite his professional success and love for his son, he struggles with a gambling habit that puts his resources at risk.

Jankin is a small, dark-haired minstrel with sharp black eyes. He competes for the same audiences as Roger but operates with fewer scruples. He opportunistically uses gambling to take advantage of others, displaying greed and cowardice that directly threaten Adam's happiness.

Perkin is the son of a plowman and a dedicated student at St. Alban's school. A year older than Adam, he is tall, dark-haired, and serious about his education. He dreams of studying at Oxford to eventually serve as an advisor to the king, utilizing education as a rare path out of his social class.

Nick is a red spaniel who belongs to Adam. He is well-trained, capable of walking on his hind legs and playing dead for audiences. He provides Adam with unconditional companionship and represents safety and home to the young boy.

Dame Malkin is a kind, elderly woman who lives in the village near the boys' school. She boards Nick for Adam, feeds the boys scraps of food, and enjoys listening to Adam practice his minstrel songs.

Sir Edmund is a wealthy nobleman who acts as Roger's patron. He owns a large manor house and travels with a massive retinue, maintaining the power structure of the feudal system by offering protection and employment in exchange for service.

Lady Richenda is the wife of Sir Edmund de Lisle. She holds high status in the noble household and enjoys listening to Roger's tales of romance and chivalry while traveling.

Margery is the young daughter of Sir Edmund and Lady Richenda. Educated to speak French and accustomed to luxury, she attempts to be kind to Adam but lacks an understanding of his lower social standing.

Emilie is the older daughter of Sir Edmund. Her arranged marriage dictates the family's schedule and requires a massive celebration featuring numerous entertainers and grand feasts.

Hugh is the nephew of Sir Edmund de Lisle and serves as Margery's page. Due to his noble bloodline, he acts as the leader among the boys at the manor. He begins as arrogant but changes his opinion when he sees Adam's skills.

Simon is a friendly squire in the service of the de Lisle household. He treats Adam kindly when the boy feels embarrassed and quietly harbors romantic feelings for Sir Edmund's older daughter, Emilie.

Bayard is a powerful, impressive warhorse originally gifted to Roger by Sir Edmund de Lisle. The horse serves as a visible symbol of Roger's success and becomes a point of contention among the characters.

Daun William is a wealthy merchant who travels with an entourage to sell goods at regional fairs. He has a young son of his own and sympathizes with Adam's situation, offering the boy safe passage. However, he sometimes talks too much and lacks vigilance on the road.

Sir Adam is a local bailiff responsible for overseeing agricultural work and keeping the peace. He possesses knowledge of local heraldry and is decisive when called upon to uphold the law.

Lady de Rideware is the wife of a knight who has turned to robbery in the king's forest. She attempts to cover for her husband's crimes but is easily bypassed by local authorities.

John Ferryman operates the local river crossing. He is a humble, hardworking man who, along with his wife, demonstrates great hospitality to strangers in need without expecting payment.

Jill is the practical, maternal wife of the ferry driver. She recovers Adam's lost belongings from the dock and offers him sensible advice on how to track down his father in nearby towns.

Master Walter is a parish priest who takes Adam in after an injury. He is a serious religious figure who believes minstrelsy is an inappropriate lifestyle and pushes Adam toward becoming a parish clerk instead.

Dame Prudence is Master Walter's sister. She diligently nurses Adam back to health but disposes of his minstrel robes, replacing them with parish clothes to enforce her brother's expectations for the boy.

Jack is the father of a traveling minstrel family. Unlike Roger, Jack performs crude jokes and earns very little money. He represents the lower tier of minstrelsy, scraping by on the road and sometimes ignoring the law.

Allison is the matriarch of the de Vesey minstrel family. She endures the harsh elements of the road, frequently going hungry when the family's performances fail to bring in enough money for food.

Lawrence is the older son of the de Vesey family. He holds cynical views regarding the kingdom's wealth distribution and believes that stealing to feed himself is justified, which puts the entire group in danger.

Andrew is the younger son of the de Vesey minstrel troupe. As a member of a destitute family, he lacks his own instrument and frequently takes turns using Adam's harp.

Matthew is the son of Sir Edmund's bailiff. When the manor house empties out for the winter, he becomes Adam's primary source of company, helping him pass the dreary months by watching local performances in London.