Dinosaur Dreams (Indian Trail's Book 1)

by David Charles Leitner

  *****

  Sojurn was uneasy as the great beast swooped in from above and landed before him. To his dismay, the great eagles back was empty and the princess was nowhere to be seen.

  Horhay cried out so loud that it spooked the War Birds as well as the other tribal members. The warrior tried to step around the bird but it kept blocking his path.

  Finally he understood and nodded bowing low. “Wait here.” He said then turned and ran back to his hut. He soon returned with a large harness that was used his tribes mounts.

  The noble eagle leapt back in complaint giving another ear shatter cry that echoed across the entire valley. “You’re the one who wants me to go.” the warrior told it holding up his empty hands.

  The enormous eagle settled down after a bit and stood looking at the harness. Pulling out his knife, Sojurn made some modifications cutting off the bridal and chest harness. Lifting it up and hooking the first set of ties around the great eagle’s neck, then cut out the next two to make room for his wings.

  Back into the hut he went returning with several small practice shields which the warrior attached to the underside of the harness. Horace complained but held still allowing him to add them until the entire chest was covered.

  Once he was satisfied, Sojurn went and outfitted himself then climbed up onto the Great Eagles back. “Let’s go.” The warrior said then held on tight as Horhay leapt up into the air extending its massive wings.

  Several hard downward thrusts and the two left the village behind climbing into the evening sky.

  “Will my son live?” Franchesca asked Guia as they watched the majestic bird until it became only a dot in the sky. “That is up to our God as Paulino has already chosen his own path to walk.” The shaman replied touching the spot of her previous wound.

  Nodding, Franchesca followed the older woman as they went into the woods to pick more herbs for the coming battle.

  *****

  The kingdom had been stopped in its tracks for the day as the king set to marry the eastern tribes princess. Roads had been swept clean, wreaths of flowers hung and minstrels played in the streets to help add to the festive atmosphere that had taken over. Ale and spiced wine flowed freely from the pubs and taprooms all across the capital in honor of the day.

  Alitta stood looking at herself in the polished steel mirror as the seamstress helped her into her wedding dress. The door opened and the young girl who had showed her the secret tunnels came in with her bouquet looking not to happy. Her face still bore the signs of Paul’s brutality.

  “My Queen.” The girl said handing her the flowers. “I’ve something for you too. The pale yellow dress in my room. You know the one.”

  The girl nodded but looked somewhat confused. “I’ll not need it anymore.” She whispered conspiratorially bringing the girls eyes up sharply as she searched Alitta’s features to see if she told the truth.

  Understanding registered and the girl bowed low and excused herself. “Are you nervous my Queen?” “Not at all Lonta. I actually feel calm and empowered.” “The King will not show you any kindness.” the seamstress said worried.

  “Do not fear for me, I go into this with open eyes.” the princess told her. The other woman nodded to Alitta and curtsied before leaving her alone.

  An hour later, a knock at the door produced Sergeant Ambly dressed in his best uniform with more than twenty medals and ribbons on his chest. “I’ve been in a few scuffles.’ He said slightly embarrassed at her attention.

  “I’m certain that you acted with honor in all of them.” The princess said laying a hand on his arm warmly. Alitta could see the turmoil in his eyes and cleared her throat before he spoke something that would be treasonous to the king and cost him his life.

  “I’ll be OK. Just tell Queen Josefina to be ready once it is time for liberation.” she whispered taking his arm as other guards opened the door of her sanctuary.

  “Time to go.” Alitta said with a smile and strode out of the door confidently.

  *****

  The trumpets blurted and the crowd hushed as the queen to be came out of the castle and onto the large wooden balcony that had been erected so the ceremony could be viewed by the commoners eighty feet below.

  Paul stood there in a gold colored tunic with a high collar. It had white lace and pearl like jewels sewn onto it glittering in the afternoon sun.

  His hair was slicked back and an evil smile was plastered on his face as he watched his bride to be sway across the open platform towards him.

  She was dressed in the silver colored dress and looked radiant as the sun to him with her long light brown hair flowing like a lion’s mane behind her in the afternoon breeze. “My dear, might I say that you look angelic and I can’t wait to ravish you tonight.”

  “No you can’t.” she said showing no emotion on her face as she stared at him coolly. The priest approached and stood between them on the edge of the platform. “Dearly beloved…” he began loud enough so that his words could be heard by those below.

  “Smile my dear. Our subjects demand it.” Paul ordered her. “I’ll smile when I know that you are dead and cannot harm anyone else ever again.” Alitta shot back through clenched teeth with a smile now on her face.

  “Oh how I look forward to breaking you like a wild bronco.” the king said jovially. “You’ll never get the chance.” the Eastern Princess hissed back angrily.

  The priest cleared his throat looking at the king who signaled for him to continue ignoring their banter. Paul produced the rings and held them up for the crowd to see before going to put them on her hand.

  Alitta sprung into action pulling out the dagger and slicing at the mad king. A red line appeared on his cheek as he had moved back just out of range. She had to stop her attack as Paul shoved the priest into her path buying himself time.

  “Nice hiding spot.” He said pulling out his decretive sword prepared to defend himself. “After you lose, you’ll still marry me and I’ll use you as I see fit.” came his angry reply touching his cheek wincing.

  Other guards arrived with weapons drawn blocking any chance of escape. ”Lay down your weapon and I’ll not string up all of the servants who waited on you during your stay here.” he threatened.

  “Actually, it’s yours.” Alitta said holding up the broken tipped dagger. Paul reached for his sheath only to find that it was indeed his that he’d planned on cutting her dress off with tonight.

  “You’ve nowhere to go.” He said wild eyed as she stood calculating her chance of fighting free. “We’ll do this again real soon only the outcome will not be in your favor.” she promised holding the daggers broken end towards him.

  Leaping off the raised platform as the king ran over to the edge, she waved good bye as a giant shadow blocked out the sun and moments later a large eagle with a wingspan of thirty foot or more shot past like a rocket.

  The princess was caught in one of its large talons as it swooped by then flapped hard up and away leaving him behind. Paul took note of the warrior’s face who rode upon its back. It was the same one who had denied him access to the eastern lands when he had arrived on this planet. Only then he had ridden one of the non flying War Birds.

  His anger bubbled over and he called out for his generals to meet him in his war room.

  *****

  Queen Josefina had come out of hiding and slipped among the gathered crowd disguised as an old peddler. She had received Sergeant Ambly’s message and came with many men ready to attack if the princess gave the signal.

  Her eyes fell upon the massive bird high up amongst the clouds even before it dove down. She watched in amazement as the great eagle from the far north cliffs streaked by only twenty feet away clutching Alitta before she hit the ground and flew away. It was as the prophets had predicted so long ago back on earth and upon its back was one of the Sky Riders of old.

  “The Queen will fly up into the sky, away from the clutches of the mad King, only to return from whence she fell to lead the people on
after denying the Ring.”

  Making the sign of the cross, the deposed ruler slipped away from the wedding to prepare for the coming of the entire tribes new ruler. She would be ready upon Alitta’s return.

  *****

  Sojurn held on tight as Horhay soared high into the sky using its massive wings to beat the air lifting them higher and higher. The warriors face was colder then it’d ever been even during the cold white months that coated the world before its colorful rebirth every seven years.

  Closing his eyes as tears streaked across his cheeks, he began to enjoy the feel of the wind as it whistled past. He was higher even then the tallest mountain top on the back of this holy bird.

  The warrior remembered as a child wondering how high that they could go and his father’s laugh at a child’s foolishness. “Only the star shall ride that high upon them.” he would tell Sojurn about the prophecy that would one day be the salvation of their people in the eastern lands.

  “If one of Noble Birds lifts you up so high, then it is for you to go meet God in the afterlife.” If only his father could see him now.

  The great majestic eagle rode the thermals heading westward into the setting sun. It landed at the base of the great falls where multicolored Shrumpet fish swam lazily about. There he and Horhay, also called Saint Jorge by Alitta, spent the night after a quiet meal.

  Sojurn was at odds, but warm under the eagles massive wing feathers stretched out over him as if he where one of its eaglets. Early the next morning before the sun had even begun to paint the sky, they took off once more with the sun’s rays at their backs.

  All that day the two flew until the smoke in the distance signified their arrival into the heart of the enemy’s lands. A vast village built of stone and wood greeted the warrior whose own people still lived in their traditional huts like their ancestors who first came to this world.

  How much things had changed here in less than fifteen full cycles of their star above. Sojurn had the great eagle land at the edge of the forest which had been decimated from here all the way to the stinking capital.

  The enormous destruction that had been caused here brought tears to his eyes that streaked down his face. The royal bird nudged him gently with its mighty beak that was able to snap a man in half like a twig.

  Looking up into the great eagles big green eyes, he saw understanding and intelligence that he’d never known in the war birds that were more like unruly two year olds.

  Patting the eagle’s neck, he asked it to remain hidden while he went to check things out. The giant bird complained but bobbed its massive head then backed into the shadows of the forest.

  Sojurn began to sneak across the open fields that had once held six foot round trees that had reached more than eighty feet into the blue sky above. He traveled almost half way across to the extremely large village when the warrior had to hide in a shallow depression as a cart rumbled by pulled by a once noble bird of war.

  Now it was not even a former shadow of itself but merely a pack beast harnessed to a square box. A group of men and boys followed it carrying saws and axes headed for the forest to further destroy what God had given to them all.

  The warrior wanted to leap out and stop them, but from the down trodden looks and slumped shoulders he knew that they were as much of slaves as the war bird that pulled the cart. Its feathers had molted and a red rash where the harness hooked around its neck oozed fluid.

  He vowed to end this tyranny and lift up those who had been treed upon in these western lands. Waiting until the group had passed, the warrior continued on until he had reached the outskirts of this wreaking place that curdled his stomach.

  Huts of wood falling apart dominated the landscape for the next two hundred yards. Past that, a great wall of stone fifty foot high had been erected with warriors on top looking out guarding it.

  A large gate was open with several guards milling about leaving no opportunity to enter. Sojurn would have to find another way in if he were to find a way to get to Alitta.

  A group of soldiers started to march out the gate forcing him to duck into one of the little one room rundown buildings and found himself face to face with a little girl no older than six.

  “Who you?” she asked tilting her head to the side while she studied Sojurn. He didn’t know if he should speak or just clamp a hand over the girl’s mouth until the patrol had gone by.

  “Who are you talking to dear?” came the question from a mat in the corner of the huts room. “The painted man mommy.” was her innocent reply almost cheerily. “Ok, you just make sure you stay inside until I get up later.” the mother said and rolled back over and went to sleep.

  He waited until the sounds of snoring filled the hovel before he responded. “My name is Sojurn. What’s yours?” “Ula.” “Well met Miss Ula. Are you well?” “Yeah, I guess but I’m hungry.” Nodding, the warrior took the pouch attached to his belt and pulled out some Yagna lizard meat that he’d smoked for the journey.

  The little dark haired girl’s eyes lit up and she took what was offered devouring most of it greedily. The rest she lay by her mother’s head for her when she woke.

  Suddenly feeling guilty, the girl apologized for eating it all as she looked down at her dirty little bare feet. Sojurn’s heart wanted to break and he lifted up her chin smiling telling her all was all right as he produced another piece from his pouch.

  “Water?” Ula asked then raced off without waiting for his reply. She returned with a bucket of water that had a film on top that glistened with many colors. “Thank you Ula..or gem of the sea.”

  The warrior took a small sip to appease her fighting back the urge to spit out the poisonous water. She grinned broadly and reached into a corner pulling out a little rag which she said was her baby doll.

  The girl began to make it dance on her leg as she spoke about the foreign princess and the king. “…and mommy says that their wedding will be so beautiful just like she is. Are you here for the wedding? Oh I wish we could go but were not allowed in town unless mommy entertains the guards for awhile.

  She usually has enough money to get us some food for a few days instead of the forest mice and hole-diggers we usually eat. The meat that you brought is much tastier. Did you know that…?”

  Sojurn spent his time in the little hut until darkness came. Laying his hand on top the child’s head, he said a prayer to the father for her and her mother.

  Handing his pouch to her, he stood to go then paused at the door. Taking off one of his gold bracelets, he gave it to Ula telling her to use it for safe passage for she and her mother to the eastern lands.

  “Will you be there? Will we be safe? Mother says the wedding tomorrow will make us all one people. Is that true? Does that mean that we’ll be related? Will I see you there?”

  The warrior shushed her and slipped out of the hut as her mother stirred awake. “Who are you talking to baby?” “I told you Mommy, the painted man and ohh Mommy look what he gave us.” “What…Where did you get this?” her mother gasped.

  “The painted man Mommy, weren’t you listening to me? I think that he must have been a Prince or something. He said that we should use it for safe passage to our eastern cousins. Oh Mommy look, he gave us food as well and…”

  Sojurn smiled as he slipped away into the shadows of the night. He found Horhay right where he’d left him and the great eagle called out in greeting with a near ear piercing screech that silenced the night creatures in the forest.

  “Easy boy.” He said patting its beak in greeting. ‘We’ll strike, but not until tomorrow and silently.” He added laying down. The warrior fell fast asleep for the few hours until dawn arrived all too soon.

  The eagle left to hunt and returned with a portion of its kill for him. Sojurn took the lizard meat graciously as he watched the far of city calculating when the time to leave would be.

  Finally he stood and gathered his items putting them into a pack as Horhay hopped from foot to foot impatiently. “Settle down now. We’ll
find her.” he said to the royal bird that held still as he climbed up onto its back. “Fly high and swift and ride the thermals until it is time to strike.” Sojurn said rubbing its beak.

  Turning its head back, he gave a cry then took flight up into the morning sky. The warrior enjoyed the feel of the wind rushing through his hair as they climbed higher into the air leaving the ground behind.

  He shivered once they’d finally made it to a place so high above. All that Sojurn could hear was the rush of the wind past his ears but held faith as Alitta’s guardian cried out and then tucked its wings sending them into a free fall towards the ground far below.

  The colossal stone village appeared once they had dropped below the high puffy clouds with the center fortification as its crown. The warrior held on tightly with both hands leaning as close as he could to Horhay’s neck to keep from getting yanked off by the rush of air.

  The large platform came into view just as the princess jumped off its edge. The Great Eagle gave a cry as its wings extended with a loud pop that sent all gathered to the ground cowering in fear.

  Horhay pulled up at the last second clutching Alitta in one of its massive talons as they swooped past only a few feet off the ground.

  Sojurn saw the king for the first time since their meeting years ago noting the angry face and red line that had been opened up on it. He just had time to see the little girl and her mother standing on the edge of the crowd closest to the palaces main gate pointing at them.

  Their ride beat its wings as they left the sounds of the shocked city dwellers behind. Getting its other claws on the princess, Horhay gently cradled her as they flew off into the east with the sun at their backs.

  Swooping down as they neared the mountain range, the humans were set down by the pool from the high waterfall as night began to set in.

  The twin moons rose high above the trees as they began their trek across the night sky. Sojourns breath was taken away as he looked upon Alitta in her silvery dress emblazoned with precious stones and golden thread.

  He noticed that her leg was bleeding and knelt down to take a look. Pulling his headband off, the warrior began to wrap it around her bare thigh when she placed her hand on top of his.