Princess Artemisia can't help smiling. Her little brother, Constantine (younger by a crucial forty-seven minutes), is terrified of making his first state visit to New Scandinavia, one of the most welcoming systems in the galaxy, especially to Artemisia, who is spectacularly popular here. Not long ago, Constantine risked his life to help rescue Artemisia from assassins. It was bad enough for the attackers to find out that Artemisia herself was a crackshot, but then they discovered that Constantine, her twin, shared her talent. Facing up to psychopaths with energy-weapons didn't bother him. The prospect of stepping down the lander's ramp, to face the welcoming-committee, plainly scares him stiff. "On your feet, little bro'," laughs Artemisia. "I'll make a man of you yet!"