Lalani of the Distant Sea

Ellseth is a man who came from the island of Isa. He has horns on his head, like all members of the mindoren breed. However, he is unlike the other mindoren—who are kind-hearted and peaceful—because he is a thief. While the island met all his earthly needs, he was greedy and wanted more. He stole a talon from an eagle creature called the bai and took a magical arrowhead from the island’s guardian, which he keeps in a pouch around his neck.

For his many crimes, the mindoren took away Ellseth’s eyes because he coveted everything he saw. Then, they banished him to Sanlagita. He lives alone in the hills on Mount Kahna, seeking the eyes of anyone who strays across his path. Lalani innocently makes a bargain with him and almost loses her eyes as a result. However, a mudslide destroys Ellseth’s hut and buries him. As Lalani tries to rescue him, the pouch around his neck breaks loose, and she becomes the unwitting owner of the arrowhead udyo.

Fei Diwata was created to be the guardian of the two islands of Sanlagita and Isa. She appears in the shape of a tiny, beautiful girl, but she has immense power. Her role is to keep all the life forms on the islands in balance. However, losing her udyo makes it difficult to bring good fortune to Sanlagita. She has grown bitter and mistrustful of humans, killing anyone whose heart is driven by evil motives like Ellseth. When Lalani arrives, Fei Diwata can sense the girl’s good heart and heals her of a fatal insect bite. Once her udyo is restored, Fei Diwata sends flowers and plants to help restore the island of Sanlagita and make it as prosperous as Isa.

Ditasa-Ulod is the guardian of the Veiled Sea. She has the body of a shimmering eel but the face of a beautiful woman. Like Fei Diwata, she was created to be a protector, but she can’t discern the motives of the human heart, so she drowns all humans who try to sail to Isa. She attempts to drown Lalani twice but is thwarted by a friendly creature and a guardian ghost who help Lalani complete her journey. Ditasa-Ulod does succeed in drowning the cruel Drum and Kul by the end of the story.

Usoa is a teenage mindoren who first encounters Lalani after the girl reaches Isa. She has spent years building a strong and sturdy body to complete her life’s mission of avenging the death of her mother, whom Bai-Vinca killed, mistaking her for the thief who stole her dead sister’s talon. Usoa accompanies Lalani for part of her journey up Mount Isa to find Fei Diwata. As they travel, they are attacked by Bai-Vinca, and Usoa succeeds in killing the eagle beast. She is severely wounded, but the reader learns that some underground creatures have taken charge of her. She is healed and restored to her mindoren herd by the end of the novel.

Bai-Vinca is a member of the bai species. They are birds of prey that reach a height of nine feet. Bai-Vinca is fearless but is heartbroken after the death of her sister. She has cut herself off from the other bai and has spent years plotting her revenge against the unknown assailant who stole her dying sister’s talon. When she sees Usoa’s mother burying the talon to try to make amends for Ellseth’s thievery, Bai-Vinca assumes she is the thief and kills her. This triggers an equally vengeful response from Usoa, who kills Bai-Vinca years later.

Veyda Yuzi is Lalani’s 12-year-old best friend. She is considered beautiful, unlike Lalani, but doesn’t concern herself with her looks. Veyda is a natural healer who has taken an interest in the medicinal properties of plants. She brews potions to help her neighbors and tells Lalani about the magical flower that might cure her mother’s disease. At the end of the novel, Veyda opens a school to teach girls (and a few boys) the healing arts.

Hetsbi Yuzi is Veyda’s younger brother. He is easily intimidated, and he fails to show any aptitude for the three professions of men on Sanlagita: fishing, boatmaking, or sailing. Hetsbi frequently reproaches himself for his cowardice, especially when he casts a vote to make Drum the head of the village simply because the boy is intimidated by the bully. He makes amends by suggesting that Drum should be the next man to sail for Isa, thus ridding the islanders of another oppressive leader. As the story ends, Hetsbi attends Veyda’s school for healers.

Mrs. Sarita is Lalani’s mild-tempered mother, who is forced to marry her brother-in-law Drum after her husband dies at sea. She is unhappy with the arrangement but is supportive and loving toward her daughter. She is as expert mender, but her job carries great risk. A single prick from a sharp needle can cause the fatal mender’s disease. After Mrs. Sarita is infected, she spends much of the novel wasting away. Lalani returns in time to save her with the petals of the osnoom flower.

Drum is Lalani’s brutal stepfather. He has a quick temper and loves to order people around. He considers women to be weak and useless and is especially critical of the small Lalani. When the village menyoro is killed in a mudslide, Drum becomes the new leader. He is even harsher than his predecessor and rations food while criticizing the villagers’ laziness. He is manipulated into sailing to Isa because he is too proud to admit he is frightened. After he sails away, Ditasa-Ulod rips him apart. His severed hand, still clutching a gavel, drifts back to Sanlagita.

Kul is Drum’s oafish son. He is as much of a cruel bully as his father and likes to intimidate the younger children, including Lalani. For the most part, he follows his father’s orders and threatens the villagers with punishment when they don’t obey. At the end of the story, he sails away with his father, never to be seen again.

The menyoro is the village leader who supervises all the activities of the islanders. He assigns them work and rations their food. He also says that he has the power to heal, but nobody has ever gotten well because of him. He is greedy for power and cares little for the welfare of others. He is killed when torrential rains cause an avalanche of mud to hit the town.

Cade is 12 years old and is considered the most handsome boy in the village. He is also generous and kind. Unlike his schoolmates, he is attracted to Lalani and tries to prevent her punishment at the hands of Drum. He and Hetsbi conspire to make Drum and Kul leave the village by suggesting that the two leaders are the only ones strong enough to set sail for Isa. In the end, Cade is delighted when Lalani returns to the island.

Maddux is the father of a sick infant. He appreciates Lalani’s gentle spirit and Veyda’s medicine for his son. When the menyoro dies, Maddux suggests that the people should have a say in who will rule over them. Although he loses the election to Drum, the novel implies that he will become the next menyoro after Drum dies, and that his leadership will be benevolent and just.

Ziva is the ghost of a girl who tried to leave Sanlagita by stowing away on a ship bound for Isa. Once discovered, she was thrown overboard by the sailors and drowned. The legends of Sanlagita paint her as a malevolent spirit, but she means no harm. Lalani expresses compassion for Ziva’s sad fate. In return, the ghost sends a pahaalusk to help Lalani survive the journey over the Veiled Sea. She then gathers fruit on Isa for Lalani to sustain herself. Ziva explains that the supreme virtue is compassion.

Mother Nalupai belongs to a group of spirit beings who dwell above the mortal realm. She created the two islands and the Veiled Sea as well as the guardians who protect the waters and the land. When she made Fei Diwata, she told the guardian that the greatest virtue is compassion and that the islands belong to people like Lalani with goodness in their hearts.