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The Adventures of Andrew Dunbar

By Eric Ferguson

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Chapter One – The quarrel
“Stop! You are trespassing on our lands!”
The loud bellowing command woke up the two men perched high up the oak tree. They both were startled that they had fallen a sleep and left themselves vulnerable. As they looked around, they both reached for their bows resting on the large tree branch.
“I was sure we placed ourselves in a spot secluded from the forest floor. The vegetation from this tree blocks our view,” whispered the red haired and bearded man. The other man just grunted as he looked nervously around him. Both were wearing long sleeved shirts with a large red cross in the middle. After a tense minute, they both realized the voice wasn’t intended for them. They were not discovered by the men on the forest floor but they were trespassing at that moment and there would be consequences If found.
“I said, stop! This forests is property of the Dunbar Kingdom and you have no right to be wandering through it!”
A large black bearded man with a deer hanging on his shoulders turned around. He was joined by three other men all dressed in black cloaks with pheasants, ducks, quail, fox, and deer hanging off their shoulders. Each man was above average size and had dark, black hair that matched their beards.
“My name is Bruce and I am the King of Dunbar’s brother. We own these woods that you are trespassing in. You know the laws of this island. Leave the treasure you hunted from these woods and I will let you go back to your lands unharmed.” Bruce was flanked by six other men, each with their swords drawn and looking very intense.
At that moment, the large man who seemed to be their leader bellowed out a great laugh that made the Dunbarians very uncomfortable.
“I am Dmitriy, the King of the Black Hills. Who are you to claim to own this land. Doesn’t your God believe in sharing and living together in peace?” “Shouldn’t we all share the bounties of this island all together?”
Bruce staired at this large man and had an uneasy feeling. He felt in the pit of his stomach that this wasn’t going to be a peaceful encounter. A bead of sweat came trickling down his face as he looked back at Dmitriy. He thought for a second and then pulled out his sword. At that moment the four Black Hills men dropped their plunder and quickly pulled their swords, advancing slowing towards the Dunbarian men.
“STOP! Don’t come any closer!” yelled Bruce. “We don’t want this to come to blood. Leave your haul there and be gone. Go back to your lands and our paths don’t need to cross ever again!”
“You are insulting me,” growled Dmitriy. “First you claim we can’t hunt for food to feed our people and say that these woods are only yours to benefit from. Now you are saying we must leave our well earned hunt for you to steal like a wild dog. What shall it be protector of Dunbar? Peace or death, your decision.”
2
Bruce looked to the left at his men and then at the right. His eye contact gave away what his choice was going to be. His hands were sweaty and his heart was racing.
“You leave me no choice King of the Black Hills, we must follow the law!”
And at that moment Bruce and his men lunged forward with swords drawn. Instantly, the sound of steel clanging against each other echoed throughout the forest. Even though the Dunbar soldiers had more men it was not a forgone conclusion they would win for the Black Hills hunters were experienced with using weapons. Quickly two Dunbar soldiers subdued one of the hunters and as Dmitriy saw his comrade fall, he quickly shoved the two men he was in combat with and raced towards those soldiers. Dmitriy quickly attacked the two men, killing one almost instantly. He then finished off the wounded man as two more Dunbarian soldiers surrounded him. Meanwhile, Bruce had a Black Hills man on the ground and ended his life. He looked up to see two of his men dead and one of the enemy running towards him. Bruce pulled out his dagger and threw it with great precision. That hunter fell to the ground in great agony.
“Finish him off Douglas, and lets take on Dmitriy together,” yelled Bruce.
As Bruce and Douglas scoured the area, they noticed that all the other soldiers that were with them that day were slayed, as were all of the Black Hills men except Dmitriy. About ten feet away from them Dmitriy was standing over one of their fallen men. Dmitriy had several rips through his cloak where blood was trickling through it. His face was covered with a combination of dirt and blood. He almost looked satisfied in all the bloodshed that had just occurred.
“Mighty King of Black Hills. Hear me out. You have fought well today but look around you. These men didn’t need to die and neither do you. Lay down your weapon and we can resolve this. I promise on my father’s grave I will not harm you.”
“Fool, do you think I can trust you! Your Kingdom’s people think you are superior to the rest of this island. You don’t want to live in peace, you want to dominate this island and keep all the land and sea under your control. Listen to me protector of Dunbar. I have killed five of your men today, it will not be difficult to kill you two as well. Say a prayer to your precious God, because it will be the last words you ever utter.”
Bruce looked at Douglas and without saying a word they both knew from many prior fights what they needed to do. They circled Dmitriy so he constantly had to look around both shoulders for the next attack. After what seemed like hours, the two finally advanced on the Black Hills king. The two men worked as a team, swinging swords at the exact same time, never allowing Dmitriy to catch a breath. A well timed swing by Douglas chopped off Dmitriy’s left hand and he fell to the ground. Both men stood over the large King. As Bruce readied to grab his sword, Dmitriy unexpectantly jumped towards Douglas and thrust his sword into his stomach.
“NO!!” Bruce yelled and with rage he ended the life of Dmitriy, King of the Black Hills.
Bruce looked around him and sighed. He got down on one knee and placed his hand on the head of Douglass. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed.” He closed his eyes and then sat down next to him feeling exhausted.

3
The two men sitting in the oak tree wearing the red crossed shirts had just witnessed everything that took place. They both looked at each in disbelief. Knowing they were both trespassers as well, they quietly grabbed their weapons and quietly descended to the forest floor, leaving the forest without ever mentioning what happened.

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