ceredig* king of elmet cuthbert cerdic 's friend cuthwin cerdic 's older brother cynric cerdic 's uncle edwin* younger son of aelle eduard childhood friend of cerdic grettir family retainer gwen wife to caerfydd , cerdic 's family slave harald earl of eoforwic hussa village youth from wicstun lilla bard and freind of cerdic 's family mildrith cerdic 's younger sister sabert earl of the eastern marches samlen prince of elmet sunniva cerdic 's older sister owain* king of rheged urien* king of rheged and owain 's father wallace lord of wicstun chapter one my uncle looking back from old age , when the faith of christ has replaced the old religions of my fathers , i can recall many times when my friends and i appeared to be at the whim of powers beyond our understanding .