The Piebald Prince - born to Princess Caution under circumstances Felicity's account of his birth and early life takes care to set down. Named Charger Farseer by Felicity on his fourth day of life, though most call him only 'the Piebald Prince'. Born mottled red and white, resembling both his mother and the Spotted Stud's markings. Raised by Felicity, possessed of considerable Wit-magic, and named King-in-Waiting at seventeen by King Virile.

Lord Canny Farseer, son of Strategy Farseer, Duke of Buck - King Virile's nephew and a rival claimant to the throne. Charismatic, reckless, and the leader of the faction known as the Canny Court, his rivalry with King Charger is one of the central tensions Felicity's account traces in careful, deliberate prose.

Serving woman to Princess Caution Farseer, narrator of Part 1. Daughter of a wet-nurse, raised alongside Caution from infancy. Deeply devoted to her mistress - companion, confidante, and wet-nurse to Caution's son. Mother of Redbird.

King of the Six Duchies, father of Princess Caution - a capable ruler who struggles, with the patience of a fond father and the careful discretion of an ageing king, to discipline his wilful daughter. The long second half of his reign is one of the settled, considered periods Felicity's account of the throne returns to with some care.

Queen Capable's younger sister, appointed by King Virile as Caution's chaperone after her pregnancy is discovered. Described as feisty as a yapping dog - strict, resourceful, and entirely a match for Caution's wilfulness. Keeps Caution locked in her rooms in the evenings.

Daughter of Lord Elfwise and Lady Kyart of Bearns - blue-eyed and dark-haired, informal and lively. Both King-in-Waiting Charger and Lord Canny court her intensely, and her position between them is one of the things the central political conflict of the Piebald Prince sequence runs through her.

Lord Curl of Blackearth, younger brother of Lord Ulder. Suspected of slaying the piebald horses in the Buckkeep stables. The man who actually strikes the killing blow on King Charger - stabbing him from behind - and who then kills young Lord Lock when Lock protests the cowardice of the attack.

Lord Elkwin of Tower Rock in Farrow, a follower of the Piebald Prince. Kills Lord Ulder of Blackearth in honourable combat. His Wit-bonded horse is among those slaughtered in the stables, and the loss drives him to prolonged grief and near-madness.

Chalcedean stablemaster at Buckkeep, also called 'Sly' or 'Sly o' the Wit' by some - a former slave purchased by Princess Caution along with his Spotted Stud stallion. Powerfully built, raven-haired, and Witted - able to speak with animals. His particular standing in the Princess's household, and the consequences Felicity's account traces out from it, are at the centre of the events the Piebald Prince's early life accumulates around.

An unusual white crow who arrives at the Fool's window and forms an immediate bond with him. She speaks a few words and proves invaluable as a scout for the household across the later books of the Fitz and the Fool trilogy.

Princess Caution Farseer, Queen-in-Waiting of the Six Duchies. Daughter of King Virile and Queen Capable. Wilful and headstrong, she refuses to choose a noble husband and instead falls in love with her Witted stablemaster Lostler. Bears his son, the Piebald Prince, and dies shortly after childbirth.

Queen of the Six Duchies, wife of King Virile and mother of Princess Caution - a doting but not attentive mother who indulged Caution's every whim, and whose particular distress at her daughter's choices is one of the more poignant strands of the early Piebald Prince sequence.

Felicity's son, fathered by Copper Songsmith - born premature, small and sickly, and raised alongside Prince Charger as his companion. He later becomes the prince's personal minstrel and truthsinger, dressing in red, black and white, and the role of a truthsinger in the events of the late novella is one of the things Felicity's account carefully turns its attention to.

Duke of Buck, King Virile's younger brother and father of Lord Canny - named for prudence and bound well to his name. The careful, considered manner in which he holds his ambitions for his son inside the realities of King Virile's reign is one of the political backgrounds against which the central events of the novella unfold.

Prince Courage Farseer, son of Lady Wiffen and the inheritor of his particular position in the line of the Six Duchies. Bears a birthmark on his left arm shaped like a bird with outstretched wings - a detail Felicity's late account of his early life draws particular attention to.

A court minstrel at Buckkeep, father of Redbird (though he never acknowledges paternity). Later becomes Redbird's master in the minstrel's guild. At King Canny's coronation he sings elaborate lies about King Charger's death, falsely portraying Canny as a hero who slew a Witted beast-wizard in honourable combat.

Felicity's mother, a professional wet-nurse who suckled Princess Caution. A practical and calculating woman who engineers the scheme of switching Caution's newborn son with Felicity's own child to elevate her bloodline, and who later hints Felicity could profit by allowing the piebald prince to die.

Minor lord of a small holding in Bearns. Comes to Buckkeep with his wife Lady Kyart and daughter Lady Wiffen bearing a remedy for King Virile. Father of Lady Wiffen.

Young Lord Lock of Bearns, barely old enough to raise a whisker - one of the young noblemen drawn into Lord Canny's circle whose particular fate Felicity's account treats with some care.

Lostler's black-and-white spotted stallion, purchased by Princess Caution at the Cattle and Horse Fair - Lostler's Wit-bond partner and one of the small, particular bonds at the centre of the events of the Piebald Prince's early household.