Dinosaur Dreams (Indian Trail's Book 1)
Page 13
Onja heard him cry out and then a loud wet thump as she half sat up getting enough strength back in her muscles to stand. Carefully making her way through the trees, she stopped at the edge of a forty foot cliff looking down at the deposed king. He lay at the bottom of the cliff among the rocks and leaves unmoving.
She spat at him as she watched for any signs of life determined to tumble stones down on top of him if need be. After more than a half hour, Onja turned to go and began heading back down to the fallen war bird as it still held supplies that would help her get back home.
*****
The majestic eagle saw the slave girl first and circled around without being told landing only thirty yards from where she sat. Her hair was disheveled, her dress torn and covered with dark stains.
Alitta slid off her mount and ran over to Onja who still held the bloody knife in her hand staring blankly ahead. Gently taking the blade away, she moved the hair out of the girls face and looked into those vacant eyes that had once been so full of life.
Sojurn came over offering a blanket which the princess wrapped around the girls shoulders gently walking her over to a log and sitting her down.
“The King?” “Dead. I killed him.” Onja stated matter-of-factly with no remorse. “Good.” Alitta told her as the warrior took off following the trail that the slave girl had come down.
He returned about three hours later nodding in confirmation of her story. “We are going to take you home.” “Why? What’s the point?” Onja asked still looking with vacant eyes yet her pain still came through on her shaky voice.
Pulling her close, Alitta wrapped her arms tightly around the girl and closed her eyes. The girl began to weep in her warm embrace leaning heavily on the Princess now for comfort.
“Shh, all will be alright now.” She told Onja who only nodded as tears still flowed down her face.
“Shall we get the body? Sojurn asked. “No, let the scavengers have him as is fitting for such a cruel man. I need you to fly her home.” “But you should…” “I’ll be fine. She needs to return. Horhay will find me again.” Alitta assured him helping the girl up and taking her over to the colossal bird.
“He won’t hurt you.” She promised Onja who pulled back like one does a hand from a flame. As they flew away, the princess wept openly for what had been revealed to her thru the gift of healing from the ‘One’.
Or maybe it was a curse as she was privy to every ach and pain that those she healed had suffered as well as their deepest and darkest secrets.
Most people had them and kept them hidden from the rest of the world behind levels of masks. To Alitta, it was all laid bare as part of the healing power from God that she was merely a conduit for.
Walking along the path that both the slave and warrior had taken, the Princess wanted to stand on the edge of the chasm looking down to where Paul had finally fallen. She thought back to her time in Brazil when he had been a possible mate before she had found out who his parents were.
Now, after seeing firsthand the damage which he had caused on this world, she was glad that he was dead. Picking her way along the trail, Alitta walked amongst the forest enjoying the sheer beauty of yet another world that her God had allowed her to see.
Coming upon the war bird which had spirited Paul and Onja away before it had passed from this world, she stopped and said a prayer for its passing. It was the same one that had first brought her to this realm and she stroked its large beak goodbye.
A large predator slipped through the woods but held back as the Princess turned in its direction. It reminded her of a cross between an American badger and a hyena but closer to the size of a black rhino or buffalo.
It regarded her and the meal on the ground behind her waiting to see what its competition would do. With one final farewell, Alitta turned and walked away into the forest ignoring the crunch of bones as the creature scavenged its meal.
Near night fall, she found herself on the rim of another deep ravine only this one looked out over many more for as far as the eye could see.
The gray shades of rock almost looking like a rippling sea before her with the sun casting its glow across them only deepening the shadows.
A cry from above made her look up to see Horhay circling then landing less than twenty feet from her. The American went over and rubbed the magnificent creature affectionately as they watched the sun setting over the horizon.
Climbing onto its back, she held on tight as giant wings took flight kicking up dirt and dust into the air. Banking eastward, the American looked upon the chasm which was the final resting place of the mad king before heading back towards home.
She hugged Horhay’s neck as he winged through the growing darkness all the way back to the Queen’s castle. Landing on the pitched roof, Alitta thanked the eagle before slipping over the roofs edge onto the balcony that led to her previous bedroom.
Inside she found Sojurn fast asleep and sat in front of the fire place watching the flames as she thought about all that had happened since her father’s passing.
The warrior startled as she stood over him looking down at his handsome features so at peace and devoid of evil.
Setting down his sword which had appeared from nowhere, he flipped back one corner of the sheets scooting over so that the Princess had room.
Alitta smiled nodding as she pulled the ties to her dress letting it slide down her body cascading on the floor about her bare feet. Standing in the light of the glow of the twin moons shining through the stained glass doors of the terrace, her skin was all revealed to him.
She slid in beside Sojurn and began planting kisses on his lips and neck before the two joined releasing all inhibitions which she may have held onto up till now about their relationship.
*****
The queen greeted her guests warmly promising to come and visit once her own kingdom was up and running to normal again. Alitta bowed and bid her farewell as she and Sojurn left the Great Hall.
They walked out to the northern garden where a large open area was at. Onja came up to them bowing to her and thanking the princess for all that she had done for her.
In her eyes shone the understanding of all of the gifts that had been given back to her. “Must you go so soon?” “Yes, we have much work to do for the Eastern tribes still.” Alitta told her.
“I’ll miss you.” “And I you.” she told the girl giving her a warm hug. “Will you be ok?” “I’ll be fine. My Father’s dead and my Mother is restored to her throne. Thanks to you I am whole again.” the girl said smiling.
One last hug and the great eagle was called landing in the garden before spiriting both Alitta and the warrior away.
“Will we ever see them again mother?” “Only God knows. He always has a plan my daughter, trust in that.” Queen Josefina told Onja.
Book Two of Dinosaur Dreams
Pain racked through his side making him gasp for air only further adding to the intense burning sensation already felt. A cry from above had brought him out of the near comatose state that had fallen over him after the attack.
His left arm shot upwards towards the retreating speck in the sky that continued to grow smaller with every passing second leaving him behind and alone.
A quick check revealed that the stab wounds he’d sustained had clotted yet the three broken ribs, sprained ankle and broken collar bone sufficiently limited the mobility.
Not too bad for someone who had fallen from such a high place he mused? Ironically, it was how he’d fallen that had probably saved his life tumbling head over heels down the rocky slope.
Had it been a straight drop, then the he’d have certainly split open his skull on anyone of the boulders scattered over the floor of this deep ravine.
Feeling lightheaded and woozy, he forced his body to stand up as he could not afford to rest now for he had seen the wild creatures that inhabited this area while hunting and had lost five members of the party to the foul beasts.
Managing to finally kill one of the
horrors, the immense body called ‘Neato’s’ or ‘claw digger’ had jaws three foot wide and four long. It could bite a man in two or swallow him whole.
Its foot long, four inch thick claws could tear up the soil like thirty men or rip through sixty foot high trees five foot in diameter like twigs.
This he didn’t plan on facing all alone, especially with how bad of shape that his body was now in. Laughter cackled out of him realizing that it was all due to the ‘One’ he’d healed so fast already.
Hobbling north towards the shifting ice fields, caution would be a must as there were many other greater dangers that could kill the warrior besides the cold.
Though none could occupy his thoughts right now as he had to find shelter for the coming night unless the ‘Shadow Terrors’ should find and pluck him from the ground devouring Paul high up in the sky.
*****
Alitta had returned from the west accompanied by her faithful protector Sojurn. With them good news traveled as well of the restored queen who wanted continued peace and goodwill between their two kingdoms.
Trade would be developed and the shaman Guia officially welcomed them back before saying her goodnights after the feast. Franchesca joined her helping steady the centuries old woman as they walked back to the hut that both mentor and pupil shared.
“Does she know?” came the question and the religious guide just shook her head as she watched the sun begin to set over the horizon.
“Your silence is appreciated as they will find out soon enough.” Guia added as her student and friend picked up the basket that they used to gather herbs in the forest.
“And the deposed King?” came the younger woman’s question almost in sobs. “Only God knows for sure. He is just, giving us endless chances to repent and come back to him. I fear that the outcome will be the same for him though.”
The Shaman laid a gentle hand on Franchesca’s shoulder to try and comfort her. “Let us not dwell on these things that are out of our control. Instead we should rejoice over the future blessings that the Lord has promised us.”
Her student nodded falling in beside Guia silently as the stars above had just now begun to be visible in the darkening sky. Praying that things might be different, but only if it was God’s will to spare her son, Franchesca walked beside the Shaman in silence.
*****
Freyja rode along on her ‘Fire Lizard’ as its suction-cupped feet padded over the icy clefts. She was much further to the south then her father Jeirgif allowed skirting the edge of their people’s realm.
She had defied his order not to stray, after all she was almost seventeen and able to make her own choices as well as take care of herself.
Her mount, Faddei, stopped abruptly tasting the air with its forked blue tongue forcing the blonde haired young beauty to hang on tight or be thrown off. Quickly it ducked into a large crevice clawing its way to the bottom.
At first Freyja thought that a Shadow Terror may be hunting high above, or perhaps an Glasere worm searching for its next meal. Yet she hadn’t heard a cry nor felt the tremors to indicate either one.
She was about to spur the ‘Fire Lizard’ on when her eyes spotted the half frozen bloody hand sticking out of the fresh fallen snow.
Climbing down curiously, the young girl approached the hand curious to see what all the hype by her older brothers was all about. Taking off one of her thick mittens, the maiden reached out with her hand like one does testing how hot the coals of a fire still are.
As her finger tips touched the others, Freyja shrieked jumping back as the hand clasped shut on empty air. It looked like today would not be the one to fulfill her morbid curiosity as the young warrior began to dig the person out of the snow.
Other books to read:
Utopia Six
AMAZON.com
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent new book under $5, February 14, 2012
By
Madison - See all my reviews
This review is from: Utopia Six (The New Planet) (Kindle Edition)
I thought Utopia Six was an excellent book and well worth the price. It had many twists and turns and should be picked up by a big book company. I think that he has the potential to make it big and just needs exposure like Steven King and Tom Clancy were given. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
The Sixteenth Apostle
AMAZON.com
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent new age Sci-Fi book about 12/21/2012., February 20, 2012
By
Madison - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Sixteenth Apostle (Paperback)
The Sixteenth Apostle was a great novel about Christ's followers who come back every hundred years to guide humanity. One of them is trying to end the world so that he can go to heaven instead of being on earth. Just like Utopia Six, I think this is a great first novel by an unknown author. Hey Random House, Tate, Bantam, Doubleday, Why haven’t you picked this guy up yet?