Asarhia March

Asarhia March is a primary protagonist of a Sword of Shadows, raised by Penthero Iss. She was found outside of Spire Vanis, supposedly abandoned there and left to die by her mother. Her unusual status as the Reach drives Angus and Raif to protect her, and prevent her from unleashing her powers.

Profile
Description

Ash is described as being skinny, with budding breasts, long silvery hair that refuses to curl, and large eyes. Later on, when Ark Veinsplitter and Mal Naysayer turn her into a Sull, her eyes turn a stormy blue.

Raised in the Mask Fortress by Penthero Iss for the first sixteen years of her life, Ash was initially a rather naive and sheltered young woman. Despite this isolation, Ash was aware of Penthero's manipulations, but craved his affections nonetheless. His use of the term "almost-daughter" would continue to haunt her, driving Ash to desperately seek the approval of her Sull overseers.

After joining Angus and Raif, Ash grows more knowledgeable and eventually independent. Her stubborness often leads her to impulsive behavior. While initially terrifed of her powers as a Reach, and concerned about her ability to control them, Ash begins to use them as a tool to command obedience and deference from others.

History

Penthero Iss found Ash outside Vaingate, as according to a prophecy concerning the birth of the Reach. It is possible she is the daughter of A Cavern of Black Ice's prologue character Tarissa, who had been traveling to Spire Vanis seeking a midwife. There are strong hints that Angus recognizes her as the daughter of someone he knows, giving her strange looks, but he never elaborates on the matter.

Growing up under the watchful eye of her foster father, Ash spent her entire childhood within the Mask Fortress. Her primary source of company were maids; the last being a spunky girl Katia. Iss' trusted captain Marafice Eye often guarded Ash, and she feared his cruelty.