I feel that there is some confusion for readers when they read Herai and I thought an explanation may help.
Characters
Glant – the city’s ruler. An old man. When he sheltered in the city with his wife and young son (Hilad) he didn’t realise that he would be there for life.
Koa – a healer who dreams of the outside he has only seen from the bottom of the growing caverns. He is on the verge of being a drunkard but his work keeps him on the right side of sobriety.
Monta – a wine producer who’s never seen a grape. He was found outside when younger and bought into the city. He was accused of murder when he was younger and has been living as a semi-outcast on the outskirts of the city. In one version of reality – the better place – his exile has been removed, although he still lives in the same place. He has been good friends with Koa since childhood.
Herai (I say it as Hair-ray) – Glant’s youngest child. Herai has been living a dull and unimportant life until the start of this novel. Suddenly the uncertainty of who will succeed Glant sends their life into tumult.
Other Children of Glant
Hilad: He is dead in the Without world. In the Better Place he is the head of Glant’s guards.
Adrij: A Block leader in both worlds. In the Without world he uses his similar looks to Glant, in the darkness, to hide the fact that Glant is dead and to issue orders pretending to be Glant. In the Better Place he is up to mischief.
Rijad: A Mal leader.