129
THE BLUE FEATHER
“No, when you are healthy you don’t think of a catastrophe
like that happening to you. Could you feel the mental pain the
children were in before we healed them? It really scared me. I
could feel through them, the fear and pain they felt as they tried
to protect their father from death, and the savage blows that cut
off their lower legs while they were forced to watch. Yes, we
must both rest now. Even with our powers, we are totally
exhausted,” Tital said, signaling to a household servant to guide
them to the rooms Queen Kiya had offered them while they were
in the city. As they entered their rooms, and had some privacy,
Bardala said to Tital, “Healing takes a long time, but the act of
killing is quick. Why is it that wherever you go there is fighting
and killing going on?”
“I could vote for peace,” Tital said, as he munched on a bunch
of Marquis Seedless grapes.
“Can we demand from the Tarawan chief, Barha, that he
leave these people in peace?” Bardala asked.
“You and I can both see that the people of Tonga are
peaceful. They have no weapons of war. They are merchants
and farmers.” Tital responded, now munching on a sweet slice of
Moon and Stars Watermelon.
Bardala sat there, gently rubbing Brilloso’s head, and said,
“How many people are missing after the Tarawan raid?”
“Six hundred and thirty-three, in total. Queen Kiya had it
broken down as to how many men, women, and children were
taken. She said most would be sold for gold. It seems to me we
should first go over to the Tarawan city, Aaruk, and pretend to be
interested in buying slaves. That way, we can learn the lay of the
land, where they are keeping so many people, their defenses,