While seemingly cold-hearted at first, the reader's approach to the character becomes more emotional as we delve into the plot. We find out that the new emperor after Kushana's father poisoned Kushana's mother, making her insane. People took Kushana away, and left her mother; alone, with only a rag doll. In her insanity, Kushana's mother thought that this rag doll was her daughter. This part of the story once again reflects upon greek mythology, where many of the gods had killed their children in temporary insanity.