Niafer

Dom Manuel

Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life.

Freydis

A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him.

The Head of Misery

Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering.

Dom Manuel

Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life.

Dom Manuel

Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life.

Freydis

A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him.

Freydis

A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him.

The Head of Misery

Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering.

The Head of Misery

Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering.

II

Interpreted as a variant of Nephthys or Nerthus, associated with death and fertility in the mythological analysis.

II: Niafer

Niafer, a small, flat-faced, dark-haired boy, uses wit and deception to outsmart the Serpent of the East and the Serpent of the North, earning Manuel's admiration.

Ascent of Vraidex

Displays resourcefulness by using a turtle to frighten the Serpent of the West and other tricks to overcome the Serpent of the South. Discusses pagan beliefs with Manuel.

IV: In the Doubtful Palace

Accompanies Manuel; her cleverness is revealed to be guided by Miramon's dream.

V: The Eternal Ambuscade

Niafer accepts Manuel's choice and departs with Death, displaying devotion and resignation.

VI: Economics of Math

Referenced as being settled in paradise; Manuel mourns her absence.

The Feather of Love

Niafer's ghost wanders in the paradise of the pagans, her love for Manuel persisting as a blind longing despite having forgotten him.

X: Alianora

Dead servant girl whom Manuel still idealizes; Alianora resents her memory.

XVI: Freydis

Deceased; Manuel continues to idealize her, stating she was more beautiful and clever than Freydis, causing tension.

XIX: The Head of Misery

Manuel dreams of Niafer during the night.

XXI: Touching Repayment

Manuel's beloved slave girl, now a ghost in her pagan paradise, whom Manuel seeks to bring back to life.

XXII: Return of Niafer

Dead for over a year, she is in the pagan paradise, remembers Manuel, and is expelled with Misery.

Manuel Gets His Desire

Resurrected as a living girl but with a flawed body (lame, face not as she remembered) and no memories of paradise. She is initially dejected but accepts Manuel, though she wistfully recalls the young man he once was.

XXIV: Three Women

The swarthy, limping peasant girl in brown drugget, she is mocked by Alianora but remains silent, privately vowing that Manuel will obey her alone.

Affairs in Poictesme

Niafer manipulates Manuel through tears into abandoning his plans for adventure, insisting he must reclaim Poictesme for the sake of appearances; she later becomes a devout Christian countess, admiring Manuel's speeches.

Deals with the Stork

Niafer desires children and negotiates with Manuel to increase the number from three to five.

XXVII: They Come to Sargyll

Travels with Manuel to Sargyll, becomes close friends with Freydis, and describes the ten images Manuel made.

XXVIII: How Melicent Was Welcomed

Gives birth to Melicent; expresses jealousy and distrust of Freydis, and insists on naming the child after her own mother.

XXIX: Sesphra of the Dreams

Niafer is mentioned as Manuel's sleeping wife, whom he now sees as plain and dull under Sesphra's influence.

XXX: Farewell to Freydis

Lies in a charmed sleep on the golden bed, unaware of the events unfolding around her.

XXXI: Statecraft

Wakened to meet Gisèle; the two women compare their babies, and the children are placed in one cradle, foreshadowing future sorrow.

The Redemption of Poictesme

Mentioned indirectly as the mother of Manuel's child, with concern for her welfare during the redemption.

Part V: The Book of Settlement

His noble wife, sharing in his reign.

Now Manuel Prospers

Manuel's wife, who fabricates a noble lineage as daughter of the Sultan of Barbary. She manages household affairs and expresses jealousy over Alianora's summons.

XXXIV: Farewell to Alianora

Manuel's wife; listens to his account of the visit with skepticism and jealousy, but is eventually mollified by his dismissive comments about Alianora's looks.

The Troubling Window

Manuel's wife, concerned about household practicalities and the pastrycook's reaction to Ruric's death, showing the mundane concerns of their settled life.

XXXVI: Excursions from Content

Manuel's wife, seen through the window; she urges Manuel to go to war, citing the Easterlings' paganism and the chance to clean his rooms; she notices the change in him but dismisses it as typical husbandly behavior.

XXXVII: Opinions of Hinzelmann

Mentioned as Melicent's mother and the one for whom Manuel paid a price to resurrect.

The Passing of Manuel

Manuel sends her a loving final message, insisting he has always loved her above all else.

XL: Colophon

Niafer's eyes appear among the memories submerged in Lethe, showing her mildly wondering disapproval for the last time.