Acknowledgements

I want to thank the multitudes, but I don't have much room.

My parents, who listened to all the stories I dreamed up but never wrote, encouraging me to put them on paper.

My sister Lucy, who always has my back but can cut me down to size when I deserve it.

Marco and Mauro, who propped me up during my darkest times and gave me a chance to focus on Rudy.

To Dr Rob Maslen, who encouraged Rudy's creation, and Dr Elizabeth Reeder, who guided my pen.

Corey Edward, Kyle Lukoff and Adam Sass, who read it first and supported me through the query trenches.

And of course Catherine, who took a chance on a Glaswegian warlock when no one else would.