Instructor Hillbrand was Adria Fairingrove's first teacher in mathematics. He was educated at the Tortallan Royal University, but worked in Tusaine. After Adria was disowned by her father, Hillbrand took her to Tortall and paid for her to study at the university herself. He said that he had always planned to leave her money so that she could afford a good education. He traveled with Adria to Tortall along with Keraine Waterstone and four darkings.