It does not take very long for Louisa Thorn to catch up to her brother, and as she pokes her head over the side of his shoulder, she mentally scrutinizes the girl her silly brother is so infatuated with.

Tristran's girlfriend has to be pretty, but not too pretty (at least not as pretty as her, since she still has to be the best looking in their family) and she must be as smart, as clever, and as capable as her but not any more.

"Hullo," she says, her tone quite polite, "it is nice to meet you. I'm Louisa Thorn."