THE BLUE FEATHER THE BLUE FEATHER | Page 159

150 JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO “We are going to have to leave Centella and Turbo here, but I have been thinking that we could take young Ronú with us. He will be the next leader of his tribe, so why not give him some early hands-on experience? After all, we are going to help his people. He will need some good stories to tell, besides, he is kind of handsome,” Bardala said, cocking her head to the side, while looking for Tital’s reactions. She didn’t get much, as Tital thought...Handsome? Hmmm...Okay, but he still needs experience, and I need some people to help. Then he said, “Let’s go see Queen Kiya and ask if she will let Ronú go with us, as we will need her permission.” As this was all Tital had said vocally, Bardala was less than pleased that her little ploy to make him jealous had failed. Later, when the two healers met with Queen Kiya, they were impressed that she trusted them so well, as she said, “You two have blessed my people in their time of sorrow and grief. You have used your strange powers for the good of my people. Ronú will be a great king some kin, but he does need the experience that you talk about, joining in on this great journey to your home world. The horses that you can bring to us will be able to keep my people strong in the future. You two are very wise and unselfish, a trait humans need more of in their lives. The men and women of my tribe will gladly help in whatever you need us to do.” Bardala was somewhat humbled at this outpouring of gratitude, a 26