Dinosaur Dreams (Indian Trail's Book 1)

by David Charles Leitner

  “Oh thank the stars above and our maker as there may still be some hope yet. Guards!” the queen called out which was quickly answered by no less than ten muscular and well armed men who looked around fiercely ready to attack.

  “Follow me.” she commanded before walking off of the platform and through an archway behind the throne. It led down a passage deeper into the mountain till they stood before a twelve foot high and wide steel door.

  Alitta marveled at the workmanship running her hand over the symbols stopping over the cross that had been crafted into the chest of a Chavin God showing that he held his allegiance to a higher power. The Paleontologist had seen this same ideology with the Paracas, Moche, Chimu, Matis, Bora and Cabellos Largos.

  “You know this God.” Queen Josefina stated and she nodded lifting out the pendant that hung around her neck depicting Horhay holding the infinity cross.

  The older woman understood and reached up to the door depressing nine different spots in the door in a unique sequence. Tumblers clicked inside and the massive door silently swung out of the way.

  Only she and the good sergeant were allowed to follow the queen leaving the guards behind to watch over the door. Inside was a domed chamber that’s ceiling peeked somewhere near fifty foot above.

  A round stone dais sat in its center and upon it was carved a large Ankh surrounded by an Ouroboros. The walls of the chamber were covered with hieroglyphs just like the ones back in South America only there were about one hundred times more here then what she had read and interpreted.

  Stone carved faces stuck out of the walls at even intervals and the princess walked around the chamber touching them each in turn. She appreciated what the artists had conveyed in their handiwork, yet found it odd that some looked like other cultures from around the globe.

  The queen stood silently with Sergeant Ambly as she circled the room stopping at the head of a Golden Eagle sitting on top of a warrior’s helmet. It looked peaceful yet fierce and determined just as she had been since arriving in this new world.

  Looking up, Alitta saw the queen nod before coming over to her and taking the pendent to hold it up beside the figurines head. “They were known as the ‘Sky Riders’ of old and helped to protect the kingdom in times of need. Through treachery and years of passage they faded into myth along with the Jaguar and Panther warriors.” Queen Josefina old her.

  She walked along the wall as she let her words sink in before continuing. ”Each held their own rank among the Kings Elite Guards along with the ‘Sea Riders’ who rode the great winged snakes, Civatateo as called by my people.”

  “For two thousand years they guarded our ancestors…” “Our?” “Yes child, our ancestors.” The queen said with a smile gently touching Alitta’s cheek her hand. “Forgive me as I was to blind with anger and arrogance to see it before, but the royal lineage plainly flows in your veins.”

  “I was looking to see an enemy when all that you are is a savior.” “But I don’t understand. I mean…” “Now I think that it is time that you returned to your room before the detestable one finds out that you are missing. Sergeant Ambly?” “Yes my Queen Josefina.” “Take the Princess back and be careful not to be seen.” “Yes my Queen.”

  “I still don’t understand? I have so much I need to know…” Alitta protested “Hush child. You will, but for now we have no time. We will talk again soon. Now go as the dawn awaits and you must be back before the changing of the guards”

  She allowed herself to be led to the door pausing only when the Queen called out to her escort. “Keep her safe Ambly on pain of death.” she cautioned him. “Yes my Queen, on pain of death.” the sergeant agreed bowing low then heading back down the tunnel unescorted.

  True to his word, Alitta was sneaked back through the stables and hefted up to her balcony were her terrace doors were still open. “Thank you Sergeant Ambly.” she called out to him. “My pleasure ma lady. Sleep well.” his cordial reply returned to her.

  Closing and locking the stain glass veranda doors, Alitta slipped into bed closing her eyes letting sleep claim her. She woke only when a servant brought a tray of food three hours later.

  Eating some of the fruits, the American got up and dressed in one of the new gown’s that had been laid out on the trunk at the foot of her bed.

  Paul was waiting for her in the garden and stood as she nodded then sat down at the little iron table across from him. The table was crude but with a glass top that showed the bubbles and imperfections people back home paid big money for.

  “Good morning. It is a pleasure to see you again.” he said charmingly. Alitta was less thrilled but tempted to let her guard down only she remembered that Sabio’s son had deceived her twice already.

  “Tea? Sweet rolls?” he asked as a servant girl stood waiting with a trey. She was cute, probably no older then sixteen making Alitta want to dive across the table and stick a knife in Paul’s throat wiping away his smug smile.

  His eyes watched her ravenously further adding to the paleontologist’s disgust for the man. “You could take her place? You know, do the noble thing.” Paul suggested happily.

  “Not today.” Alitta said noticing the brief look of panic that crossed the girls face before she put on one of passive indifference brought on by years of practice.

  They chatted about the weather, similarities of this planet to earth and what Paul saw as a land all for him once the troublesome natives had been gotten under control.

  “You mean like the American Indians.” Alitta stated almost angry. “Yes, during the late 1700’s and mid 1800’s” the king said with a smile. “Your ancestors I believe, or half anyway.” his callous remark flew her way as he continued talking about near annihilation like talking about an opera that they had just watched.

  He was so arrogant, cruel and inconsiderate of others that his new title matched those monarchs of old and today’s modern elitist class. Both of which the paleontologist couldn’t stand and had to force a smile to her face and not gouge his eyes out with a spoon.

  “So, you’re here to finalize an alliance between the Eastern and Western tribes? It shall be so and we will be married next month which marks my tenth year of rise to power. You will like it here Princess and will perform your wifely duties daily.” Paul said matter-of-factly.

  “For now, my servants will attend to them.” Paul said dropping his fork under the table with a smile. The young servant girl hesitated looking over at Alitta for only a moment before she hurriedly did what was required of her.

  Tossing her napkin on the glass table, the Princess excused herself leaving disgusted by his behavior. She was followed by his laughter at her embarrassment. Back in her room she paced back and forth as her mind reeled around all that she knew.

  “He’s a monster!” she told Sergeant Ambly later when he came to get her for dinner. “He is out of his mind.” Alitta stated and he just nodded in agreement with her. “He’s insane and…”

  The words quit flowing as she realized that she had slipped back into the English language. “Es Loco...Locola!” she corrected herself. The sergeant’s eyes lit up in understanding now and he spoke his affirmation.

  The princess looked at the dress that had been sent for her to wear and turned up her nose. “Is it not pretty?” her jailor asked a bit baffled by her behavior as she tossed it onto her bed.

  “Yes, very much but I choose not to wear It.” came her response with hands on her hips daring him to challenge her pronouncement.

  Nodding, the sergeant looked around unsure of what to do. Whether to call for another dress, tell her to wear it anyway or send word that she was feeling ill and would not be attending dinner in the Great Hall.

  He turned red and quickly looked away as Alitta took off her shirt tossing it on the bed as well. Going over to the wood Armoire that sat between the terrace doors and canopy bed, the princess rummaged through her small wardrobe until she found what she was searching for.

  Slipping the long sleeve tunic ove
r her head, Alitta went over to the bed holding out her hand expectantly. Sergeant Ambly handed her his knife reluctantly just shaking his head.

  Cloth was cut and ripped as the paleontologist pulled the dress apart. Surveying it from top to bottom, she pulled it on like a tight one piece then stood admiring herself in the full length polished steel mirror.

  Taking some lace for a belt, she told Sergeant Ambly that she was ready. He looked at her unsure, but did not argue as her escorts cleared the way for the princess as she walked down the corridor.

  At the entrance to the Great Hall, the American did not even wait to be announced striding in like she was already the Queen of this palace. The Court Barrister hurried in his introduction finishing as Alitta got to the head table.

  She had already drawn stares from those she’d passed and now all eyes were drawn to her bare mid-drift and long-legs exposed under the much shorter version of what the King had sent to her quarters to wear.

  Her chest on the other hand, was completely covered as where her arms unlike the majority of the females in court. Paul looked at the leader of her security detail with a promise of reprisal later for his will not being carried out.

  “Do not blame the good Sergeant.” Alitta said looking coolly across the table defiantly. “I am the one who choose not to wear that brothel dress that you sent over.” She finished with her head held high.

  “You dare to disobey me? You obeyed my father.” He said in English. “Only because I feared him. “ She retorted in the native tongue of the court letting Paul know that their talks would be for all to hear.

  “You’ll fear me and will obey!” “I will not” came the paleontologist’s bold pronouncement. Anyone close could see the anger on their rulers face visibly before he roped it in under control. It was replaced with his serpent like smile as he said “Very well, but you will learn to obey me once you are my wife.” “Who says that I’ll accept your proposal, which you have not yet given, and marry you?”

  Paul was visibly perturbed again and the veins in his neck bulged as it took longer to get his rage back in check this time. Forcing a smile, he indicated for another chair to be put to his left for her.

  Alitta purposely took the one before her that sat opposite of the king across the six foot wide table. She cared little if the lord of this keep was disappointed or not as she began to speak to those around her ignoring the king.

  He tried several times to interrupt her conversation, but Alitta continued to ignore him even when his subjects obeyed. Finally, she turned to the Paul answering him with a coy smile. “If you intend to get engaged and be my husband, then I suggest that you work on wooing me first.”

  Paul took this news surprisingly well nodding as if he understood her, as despite the fact that she would have no choice in the matter, the American still wanted romance first.

  The meal ended and the Princess excused herself thanking him for the food and music. “May I take you for a walk around the gardens or back to your chamber?” the king asked with a bow. “No.” was all she declared, then added before he angered “Not tonight, some other night perhaps.”

  Paul took her smile to be a positive sign and nodded in reply. “Sergeant Ambly!” “Yes your Highness?” “See to Princess Alitta’s safe return to her quarters. Also make sure that the Royal Seamstress reports to her tomorrow so that she may have suitable attire more to her likening.” “At once my King.”

  The professor curtsied in acknowledgement before exiting the hall with her detail of guards in tow. Once they had gotten back to her room, Alitta had her escort lock the door and then quickly changed her cloths.

  “So, how long do we have to wait to see you know who?” she asked with the sergeant shushing her. “Not till dark.” he said looking around as if the walls might have ears. “Then how about a walk?” the princess asked with a smile.

  “I don’t know, if…” “Of course we are. After all, I am a Princess and the King has publicly made his intentions clear. Who would dare stop us?”

  Ambly agreed even though he was still hesitant so they left her quarters and headed for the eastern gardens. As predicted, no one tried to stop them only bowing as they watched the two pass.

  Alitta breathed in the crisp clean air noting the tone of the new industrial revolution which Paul had brought to this perfect world just like the Spaniards with their small pox, mumps and measles to the Aztecs.

  Despite the beauty of the gardens, a tear rolled down her cheek as she sat on a bench thinking about it all. “Are you well Princess?” the sergeant asked with true concern in his voice.

  Laying a hand on his shoulder, she nodded putting a smile on her face. The solider was one of the few left here in the west who still kept the decency of their tribal roots.

  He saw her back to her room and said goodnight. Alitta had to stifle a laugh as he barked at the two guards outside her door that she wanted no visitors till morning. The princess was sure that the order would be passed on to the next guards on shift.

  She hurriedly changed into some dark clothes that Ambly had provided for her. Thankfully the weather had gotten cooler and she climbed down to the ground slipping into the gardens.

  Ducking into the shadows as two guards strolled on by not even noticing her presence, Alitta reached the War Bird Stable with her heart beating so loud that it rang in her ears. The lad from before sat in the middle strumming on his three string lute singing in his clear soprano tone.

  He nodded to her and continued to play as she slipped on past stopping only to rub the beak of the bird that had first brought her here. It nuzzled against her hand like a dog before she moved on.

  The princess darted from shadow to shadow until she had reached the mausoleum. A series of raps opened its door for her and Alitta went inside. She held up her arms as hands checked for weapons before she was allowed access down the stairs into the deposed queen’s realm.

  She met the paleontologist more warmly this time and they went directly to the domed chamber. Once they were there, the queen took Alitta to its center and began pointing out the different chains of spells woven throughout the mass of carvings that covered the walls.

  “I heard about the Kings intentions.” she told Alitta looking at the younger woman trying to judge her reaction. “Oh don’t look so surprised, I still have many loyal subjects. Even more then the Kings I’d imagine.”

  She broke down and began to cry and the deposed queen wrapped her in a warm hug holding her close until she had stopped sobbing. “Shh, all will be alright, but the King can never know about this chamber for the results would be catastrophic.”

  The princess looked down embarrassed and began to explain. “I’m afraid that I am the one to blame.” The queen looked at her not understanding. “The King cannot interpret these carvings. It was I who did so to escape both he and his father’s lust. He must have heard me and memorized what I said as I made sure to burn the only copy of a manuscript that even hinted as to their possible meaning.”

  The queen surely understood now, but still looked puzzled. “If this is so, how did he get here as only females of our line possess the blood strength to make the journey?”

  Alitta looked at her even more worried now. “How did the males get here then?” “Through the blood of the women, either in the womb or through sacrifice.” The queen clarified.

  The paleontologist felt the taste of copper in her mouth and had to fight to keep from retching. “His mother.” She whispered realizing only now how similar that Paul was to his crazed father Sabio.

  The look in the queen’s eyes said that there was no way that she could have known. “We have much work to do in preparation for the throne Princess.”

  Over the next six hours, she taught the American not only how to read the glyphs on the wall, but also how to combine them to create others. Each time one was spoken in this echo chamber, it would glow as if backlit by unseen light making it easier for Alitta to understand.

  “It is time that you g
ot back before you are missed.” “But…” “You’ll be back to learn more, yet the false King must not suspect.” she told Alitta who nodded in understanding.

  Once she had returned to her room, she passed out on her pillow sleeping soundly until near eight the next day. The kings tailor arrived giving Alitta only four hours of sleep.

  Fighting to stay awake, she put together several outfits that would be acceptable to her and the king so that she’d not have to wear street walker cloths. Not that she minded when going out clubbing, but she didn’t want Paul’s advances anytime too soon.

  There was so much that the queen still had to tell her about the glyphs in the chamber. Lunch came all too soon and Sergeant Ambly escorted her to the Great Hall.

  “So, I hear that you like the Royal Stables.” Paul stated casually with a smile. “They are not Lipizzaner Stallions, but the War Birds are quite impressive, are they not?” “Yes, Quite.” came her reply a bit blindsided thinking that she had been so careful then quietly chastising herself for being so careless.

  “I didn’t know that one could spend so many hours there with the smelly creatures or do you go to hear the boy play? Don’t look so shocked, I myself have been known to listening to his clear voice. If it weren’t for that, I’d have had him killed years ago for holding onto the beliefs of his false gods created by the Kings of old.”

  Paul even offered her any of the mounts if she liked for her own personal use. “Not me though, disgusting creatures if you ask me. The only good thing is that they taste like turkey.” he said with a charming smile.

  Alitta was appalled but accepted his gracious offer promising to choose the next time she was there. After dinner, he held out his arm and she took it a bit apprehensively. Together they walked through the maze of hedges that made up the western gardens.

  At times they spoke of things at others walking silently just admiring the flowers growing there. Reaching a large fountain surrounded by plants similar to roses, Alitta sat on a wooden bench listening to the tinkle of water.