Torben ("Storm Bear") Trudeau is the twin brother of Arianah Trudeau.
Torben is proud of his name, a popular choice for boys in the Trudeau family, and likes to feel that he lives up to the strength of the bear with his muscular build. Like his ancestors, he is an ardent worshipper of the thunder god, Kord, and has always seen himself as more devout than Arianah. Rin is an intelligent girl and good with people and diplomacy, but, Torben feels, she does sometimes have her head in the clouds. And where does she go on those Windae afternoons after her studies have finished? He's seen her dressing in common clothes and heading towards the woods. He knows there is a colony of elves there, and he has his suspicions that she is getting too involved with them. One day, he thinks, he will follow her and find out.
Whilst always close during childhood, since coming of age Torben and Arianah have begun to drift apart. Torben is the younger of the pair by 5 minutes, meaning that Arianah stands to inherit lands and power as the Duchess of Vandekirk in future. This has always been a point of friction between the two, but Torben knew that his sister would make an excellent ruler, and always tried not to let it come between them.
However, recent events have changed Torben's mind. On witnessing Rin's strange lightning spells, Torben realised that she had become something different, something repulsive, and she could not possibly take on the responsibility of ruling Vandekirk in her current state. It was probably the wood elves - what had they done to his sister? He knew no other response than to cast out Rin and declare himself unrelated to her - what would people think, if the ruling family of Vandekirk accepted such witchcraft, such oddness?
It could not be. The people had to have a strong ruler, and his parents were not taking enough of a stance. They were blinded by their love for Rin and couldn't see the obvious - they were appearing weak and indecisive. Rin would have to be locked away, or sent to live out her life elsewhere under another name, otherwise there would be an uprising. She was an embarrassment. Torben would argue that it was now his right, his responsibility to become the next Duke of Vandekirk. They would tell people that the strange illness had sadly taken her life, and this is why the Trudeaus do not condone magic of any kind - better to leave it in the hands of Kord. Humans should not be dabbling in things they do not understand. Sadly, he would say, Lady Arianah's curious streak had got the better of her, and now look where that got her.
He wouldn't want her hurt, of course. He would make sure she was fed and provided for, but there was no way the people of Vandekirk would accept witchcraft in their ruling family. No. Torben would step up, denounce his sister, and give the people the ruler that they needed.