225
THE BLUE FEATHER
The intense lightning bolt that hit Tital and the Staff of Power
in his right hand illuminated his whole body, and then the energy
was sucked with tremendous Otherworldly force inside the lapis
lazuli stone at the top of the staff.
“Jonathan, hold the tiller!” Bardala yelled as she rushed
forward to check on Tital, who was still rigidly standing upright by
some unknown force. When she went up to him mid-deck, she
first looked into his eyes for signs of life. His vivid, blue eyes had
an unfocused, far away look. Bardala sensed Tital couldn’t see
her. Afraid at first to touch him, all she could do was ask him in a
soft voice, “Can you hear me? Are you all right? Do you need to
sit down?” Ronú, Viviana, Lena, and Kuó all came up close,
nervously standing around to check on Tital. He stood stiff as a
board of wood, immobile, appearing to look at the distant Kaóc
Island to the north.
“Is he going to be okay, Sis?” Viviana wanted to know, looking
up.
I don’t know,” Bardala said as she hesitantly touched his bare
arm. He felt warm and alive; she could feel his blood coursing
through his body. Suddenly, his whole body shook. His eyes
wildly blinked, then blinked again trying to focus before he
hoarsely said. “What was that all about?”
“A lightning bolt hit you right in the head,” Lena was first to
say. “I was scared.”
“It should have hurt you. It could have killed you.” Viviana
told to him in a whispery voice.
“The energy from the lightning bolt seemed to be sucked into
the stone on your staff. That is just plain weird. How do you
feel?” Ronú asked as he looked Tital over for burn marks. All he