# Ustane — She character guide > Ustane in She by H. Rider Haggard. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** this Ustane, poor Ustane **First appearance:** 0009-vii-ustane-sings ## Snapshot A proud Amahagger woman who claims Leo as her husband by the custom of her people and defies the immortal Queen to keep him. ## Who they are Ustane nurses Leo through his fever and binds herself to him in a ceremony the Amahagger recognize, an act of love that places her directly in Ayesha's path. When the Queen summons her to answer for it, Ustane does not beg or cower; she stands at her full height, throws back her panther skin, and tells Ayesha to her veiled face that her love is stronger than the grave. Her prophecy of doom for the Queen, spoken as she stands on the steps of her own death, gives the novel one of its most startling moments of moral courage. ## Relationships ### [Leo Vincey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/leo_vincey) _romantic_ Leo shares a genuine romantic bond with Ustane, who becomes his devoted lover and protector. ### [Ayesha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/ayesha) _rivalry_ Ayesha sees Ustane as a romantic rival for Leo's affections and treats her with jealous hostility. ### [Job](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/job) _friendship_ Job and Ustane share a warm, supportive friendship as fellow outsiders in the Amahagger community. ### [Billali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/billali) _social_ Billali, as a leader of the Amahagger, interacts with Ustane as a member of his tribe. ### [Horace Holly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/horace_holly) _friendship_ Horace Holly treats Ustane with kindness and respect, forming a protective friendship with her. ### [Kallikrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/kallikrates) _social_ Kallikrates and Ustane have no direct interaction, but Ustane's fate is tied to his legacy through Leo. ### [Ayesha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/ayesha) _rivalry_ Ayesha sees Ustane as a romantic rival for Leo's affections and treats her with jealous hostility. ### [Billali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/billali) _social_ Billali, as a leader of the Amahagger, interacts with Ustane as a member of his tribe. ### [Leo Vincey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/leo_vincey) _romantic_ Leo shares a genuine romantic bond with Ustane, who becomes his devoted lover and protector. ### [Job](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/job) _friendship_ Job and Ustane share a warm, supportive friendship as fellow outsiders in the Amahagger community. ### [Kallikrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/kallikrates) _social_ Kallikrates and Ustane have no direct interaction, but Ustane's fate is tied to his legacy through Leo. ### [Leo Vincey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/leo_vincey) _romantic_ Leo shares a genuine romantic bond with Ustane, who becomes his devoted lover and protector. ## In the story ### [She](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/she) Present as a companion to Leo, later killed by Ayesha out of jealousy. ### [VII: Ustane Sings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/vii-ustane-sings) Devoted to Leo; sings a prophetic chant and has a terrifying vision. ### [VIII: The Feast, and After!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/viii-the-feast-and-after) Shows horror at the feast; shields Leo from a spear, taking the wound herself. ### [IX: A Little Foot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/ix-a-little-foot) Bending over Leo, washing and binding his wound. ### [X: Speculations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/x-speculations) Mentioned as having the right to accompany Leo according to Amahagger custom; her fate is uncertain if Ayesha commands otherwise. ### [The Plain of Kôr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xi-the-plain-of-k-r) Nurses Leo and Job with gentle care; is also blindfolded during the passage through the mountain. ### [XII: "She"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xii-she) Restrains the delirious Leo when Holly enters the room. ### [XIII: Ayesha Unveils](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xiii-ayesha-unveils) Mentioned as the woman who nurses Leo and embraced him upon first seeing him, following the customs of the Amahagger. ### [XIV: A Soul in Hell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xiv-a-soul-in-hell) Ustane is seen dozing at Leo's bedside, holding his hand. ### [XV: Ayesha Gives Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xv-ayesha-gives-judgment) Shows concern for Leo's condition, shaking her head and crying. ### [XVII: The Balance Turns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xvii-the-balance-turns) Forced to leave Leo's side by Ayesha's command; obeys after a tense moment. ### [XVIII: “Go, Woman!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xviii-go-woman) Marked by Ayesha with a white stripe on her hair and banished. She leaves weeping, having been stripped of her lover and dignity. ### [XIX: “Give Me a Black Goat!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xix-give-me-a-black-goat) Disguises as a leopard during the dance, approaches Leo, and begs him to flee with her to escape Ayesha's wrath. ### [XX: Triumph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xx-triumph) Defies Ayesha with a courageous declaration of love for Leo, then is killed by Ayesha's power. ### [XXI: The Dead and Living Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/chapters/xxi-the-dead-and-living-meet) Mentioned as having been murdered by Ayesha for standing in her path. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters/ustane - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_se/characters