Amhar

**Amhar** is an afshin who runs into Eran Iliakambar at the Many Meadows market during *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire*. He visits Eran after the battle with Olphix.

## Appearance

When Eran sees Amhar at the Many Meadows market, Amhar is wearing 'embroidered robes', and carries a 'black shield at his side with an alert golden scorpion engraved into it'. The latter is the emblem of the afshin military.

Amhar has, '[b]right red eyes, brown-red skin, and a full beard that was pointed with wax.' He has lines around his eyes. Amhar also has horns that are, 'brushed with gold at the tips'. He also has, 'bushy eyebrows'.

## Life

Amhar fights for Ifir prior to the story present, but states, 'I work better as a scout'. About a year prior to meeting Eran, he, 'heard a terrible rumour about ice that killed those of fire, came home and everything was gone. The town, the cities around the town. [He] couldn't access [his] village.' He'd been scouting for several months, looking for other fire fae and rumors of them, and lets Eran know that Sounhaqh was destroyed.

Amhar invites Eran to come back to join their group of fire fae. When Eran declines, Amhar gifts Eran a large amount of clipaks.

Months after the battle with Olphix, Amhar visits Eran in the new Aur forest. Amhar is amazed by the forest, but asks Eran to come back to the desert, as Eran's people need him. When Eran rejects this, and Amhar notes there is no fire, he orders Eran to make one, then cuts down firewood for him. He says he'll return, and leaves Eran items to make tea with, so Eran will be a better host next time.

## Relationships

### Eran Iliakambar

Although Eran is overjoyed to see another fire fae in Many Meadows, and thinks the experience is almost dream-like, Amhar's comment about Kabiri only having a hybrid left is cutting. Eran is very grateful for Amhar's help, and glad to know that other fire fae are alive and gathering. The two by and large get along in the encounter, and it gives Eran at least a little hope. Amhar's return visit after the battle with Olphix and desire to visit again seems to indicate Amhar still holds affection for Eran.

## Quotations

* To Eran: 'And all Kabiri has left is a hybrid?'
* To Eran: 'It’s almost a relief to keep scouting, anyway. It gives me something to do. My own trail in the sand.'
* To Eran: ‘It should be like this,’ Amhar said, grimacing. ‘Your father was a hero to many of us, and he and Iliak ran a solid, good community. We got good battles, good wars and good deaths. And now there’s not enough bone marrow in the world left to mourn them. I wish I could give you more. But if you run out, and your trail is hidden by life’s sandstorms, come back to this market.'
* Eran: 'I am in your debt.' Amhar: 'No . . . I am in yours. To see you has been a blessing upon my day. A warmth in my heart. Make your father proud, Eran. Your mother, too.'
* To Eran: '‘Grief wanes,’ Amhar said, but then sighed.'

## Folklore/Mythology

In Islamic mythology, the marid are a type of Shaitan, or evil spirit, whose name comes from the word for rebellious or recalcitrant. They are sometimes referred to interchangeably with the afrit, also known as the ifrit, efreet, or afreet, who are a powerful type of demon.

Afrit are well known underworld demonic figures from Islamic mythology. Despite being associated with the word jinn (djinn), they have been considered separate beings from each other in Moroccan and other cultures. Whereas in *Fae Tales* they are rolled into one kind of fae with different subspecies.

The use of the word djinn indicates that marid-djinn are connected to more stereotypical genies, and the djinn of mythology.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 12 March 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/31845930. Chapter 16: Leave Be.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102269367. Chapter 40: A New Season.
3. ↑ "Marid". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marid. Accessed 1 May 2021.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ifrit". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ifrit. Accessed 1 May 2021.