Lalani of the Distant Sea: List 2

Lalani rested her hand on her mother's wrist—brown skin touching—and glared at the net on the floor. She saw the traitorous needle there, lying across it, spooled with thread.

Lalani thought of her mother’s tells as she walked to the loomers. The furrow of worry on her forehead. The way she wouldn’t look up. The panic in her voice.

By the time Lalani reached Bosalene’s house at the foot of Mount Kahna, her throat was parched and thirsty, her leg hurt, and she couldn’t stop thinking about her mother’s pricked finger.

She could see Drum now, glaring at their meager serving of fish and vegetables, his eyes hooded under dark brows.

The shek were still visible, oblivious to the danger they were in.

Even if she corralled the shek, how would she lead them back?

It was so quiet. There was no wind to rustle the leaves. No birds flitting from branch to branch.

But this girl has eyes, certainly. They are inquisitive, like they carry a thousand questions.

Her gathering soon led her to the roots of a magnificent tree, one Lalani had certainly never seen before—not on this day or any other. It was tall, stately, and dripping with moss. Its branches were spindly but curved.

Her gathering soon led her to the roots of a magnificent tree, one Lalani had certainly never seen before—not on this day or any other. It was tall, stately, and dripping with moss. Its branches were spindly but curved.

After weeks of fitful sleep, Lalani finally told her mother about Kul’s story.

She wasn’t going to think about the boy with the canteen, the boy who ignored everyone’s warnings and traipsed up Kahna alone, never to be seen again.

Despite her precarious situation, Lalani couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement.

The man stood there, quietly balancing on his cane, his chin dipping toward her as if he could see. His white hair was dirty and matted around his horns.

The idea that this man (was it a man or a creature?) was from somewhere other than Sanlagita or Mount Kahna seemed as mysterious and bewildering as the notion of singing birds.

Lalani’s curiosity swelled until it overshadowed her fear and the voice whispering danger, danger.

“I was banished,” he said. “As punishment for my misdeeds.”

“I was banished,” he said. “As punishment for my misdeeds.”

I’ve not seen your island—of course, I haven’t—but mine? Isa? It is lush and alive.

The mindoren are peaceful, but solitary.

And although I was a good boy, with no wicked thoughts in my head, the solitude and idleness worked tricks on me.

And although I was a good boy, with no wicked thoughts in my head, the solitude and idleness worked tricks on me.

I wanted people to know what I had done, to respect me, my cunning, my prowess, my trickery.

I wanted people to know what I had done, to respect me, my cunning, my prowess, my trickery.

It took me a long time to realize how wrong I was to act as I did, to covet power and possessions.

And I’ve considered how I could repay my debts, even to my own conscience.

One deed, however tremendous and noble, is not enough.

And then: Strange images that made no sense. A single tree. The piercing scream of a girl.

“Fei Diwata isn’t a place, Girl. Fei Diwata is a creature. She lives on the mountain, where everything good exists,” he said. “But Fei Diwata hoards it for herself. That is why there is so much misery. She refuses to share. I always considered it foolish that she should be the one to guard the mountain. Why her? I was just as equal to the task.”

You tell her, These islands belong to those who possess life's greatest virtue.

Hetsbi should have never believed the Pasa boys when they said they wanted him to join their secret workers guild, but they’d looked so sincere.

Her voice was weary and hoarse, like she hadn’t slept in weeks.

Pahaalusk survived on grass—although who knew for how much longer, without the rain?—alongside the Sanlagitans, who had little use for them. Hetsbi had never found them particularly endearing.

He snatched the ax-saw out of Hetsbi’s hand, and he and his brother darted off, moving stealthily so the menyoro wouldn’t notice them.

From this vantage point, he could see tiny bubbles of froth inside the animal’s mouth.