Barry Longyear - Enemy Papers

Again the new warriors were spread among the old, and three new denve were formed: the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth. The warmaster of the Fifth Denve, Yaga, was made overmaster of the three new denve, and Shuri was appointed warmaster of the Fifth. Three of Yaga’s undermasters were promoted to become warmasters: Bataar to master the Tenth, Aturah, the Eleventh; and Lin, the Twelfth.

Uhe called Yaga’s command the Western Denvedah, and had Yaga’s warriors patrol the captured lands of the Diruvedah and protect the farmers Nuvvea sent from the Akkujah to make the land rich with fruit and grain.

Soon after, Nuvvea sent a message to Uhe that the Northern Denvedah had added two entire denve to its ranks, and that they would be the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Denve, mastered by Hogas and Zemlos. Nuvvea also reported that the Southern Denvedah awaited only orders to move east and enter the Kudah.

It was two years since Uhe had led its tribe from the Madah. The Diruvedah, under the rule of Mijii, had been driven until it was trapped in a corner formed by the Great Cut and the poison lands of the Melting Mountains. On the edge of the towering cliffs that formed the northern wall of the Great Cut, the land was thick with brush and trees. The Diruvedah hunters would hide in the trees, unleashing showers of poisoned darts down upon any Denvedah that dared enter the forest. Life was bought with life, and advance was slow. Uhe was in its tent, discussing the situation with Conseh and Tocchah.

Uhe pointed at the map upon the ground. "Even with its two new denve, Nuvvea does not have the numbers necessary to invade the Kudah. The Kuvedah has had two years to prepare for us. Nuvvea must wait until we have dealt with Mijii and the Diruvedah. Then we can cross the Great Cut and attack from the north while Nuvvea attacks from the west."

Conseh rubbed its chin and looked at Uhe. "If Yaga’s Eastern Denvedah joined Nuvvea in the mountains, their chances would improve."

"True, but too many of the Diruvedah have slipped by us. Yaga is needed to keep the land we have captured in the north secure. We must end the resistance of the Diruvedah before moving into the Kudah."

Conseh waved its hand at the map. "Why do we not burn them from the forest? It is dry."

Uhe studied the map, then shook its head. "Unknown thousands of the Diruvedah are in the forest. There too are their children. I would avoid such slaughter if I can." Uhe glanced up at Conseh. "Have my terms been sent to Mijii?"

"Yes. It has sent no answer."

Uhe pushed itself to its feet, walked to the entrance to the tent, and looked toward the distant forest. "Why does not Mijii answer? It is not possible that it does not see its position as hopeless. Does Mijii bargain with the rulers of the Kuvedah for help?"

Tocchah stood and joined Uhe at the tent’s entrance. "Mijii bargains with no one." The former ruler of the Irrvedah thought as it studied the expanse of the forest. "Uhe, I believe Mijii feels something I once felt. It was a feeling that the Denvedah should be resisted. Resisted until breath and blood stops."

Uhe snorted and looked at Tocchah. "That is foolishness. What is served by such a gesture?"

"I did not say, Uhe, that the feeling was in the best interests of either the Irrvedah or the Diruvedah. I say only that the feeling was there. I think it is stronger in Mijii than it was in me."

"Dah!" Uhe stepped outside its tent and looked around at the sea of prepared warriors. "Does Mijii think to buy itself a place next to Aakva’s side with such a performance? Must I spend the lives of valuable warriors to satisfy what Mijii’s feelings demand?" n the distance, a wisp of smoke rose from the forest. It was soon joined by another. Uhe looked in horror as a third began. "Conseh, your warriors are burning the forest!"

Conseh rushed outside and looked at the spires of smoke, now five in number. "It is impossible, Uhe. I would not disobey you, and my warmasters would not disobey me." Conseh studied the forest more closely. "Look, Uhe! The Diruvedah sets its own fires!"

And it was true. The fires could be seen to begin deep within the forest, far beyond the limits of the Denvedah. The gentle winds blew south toward the Great Cut. The first tongues of flame became visible above the treetops.

Uhe took a step forward, its fist in the air, and screamed, "Mijii! Mijii! You are insane!"

Uhe turned to Conseh. "Have the order spread to the front lines that any of the Diruvedah trying to escape the flames are to be allowed to do so. Take them, and guard them, but let them through."

Conseh ran toward its staff of runners. Uhe looked back at the forest. The entire front was smoke and flame, obscuring the unburned trees behind. "This is a crime you do, Mijii! A crime against Aakva! A crime against the Sindie!"

Tocchah came to a stop next to Uhe. "Watch those flames, ruler of the Denvedah. I would not—did not, could not—do the same. But you cannot imagine the pride I feel at this moment."

"Pride?" Uhe’s eyes were wide as they turned to stare at Tocchah. "Pride?"

"They would rather die at their own hands than at yours or the Madah’s. They would rather burn themselves and their children than serve your cause. Yes. Pride."

Uhe grabbed Tocchah’s arm. "It is not my cause, Tocchah! It is Aakva’s!"

Tocchah pulled its arm free and looked at the ruler of the Denvedah. "You say that there are worse things than war; worse things than eating one’s young! I tell you this, Uhe: there are worse things than dying in the manner of the Diruvedah!"

Tocchah left, and Uhe stared at the burning forest. The ruler of the Denvedah stood for two days and nights watching the flames and smoke. Upon the morning of the third day, a runner approached Uhe bearing food. Uhe ignored the food, but told the runner: "Bring word to Nuvvea. The Northern Denvedah is to go down into the lands of the Kuvedah. Tell Nuvvea that Conseh will take the Northern Denvedah and will cross the Great Cut here. Conseh will be in the land of the Kuvedah within three days. Go."

The runner left, and Uhe was overheard to say: "And by the bones of my child, Leuno, if the Kuvedah prefers death to the Denvedah’s victory, then let them be quick about it. I would spend no more good warriors' lives upon meaningless gestures. You disgust me, Mijii; and you corrupt the memory of a great people. If you refused me your service by dying with a blade in your hand, perhaps then you would be hero. But you are a coward and you have murdered your people."

The ruler of the Denvedah lowered its head and began walking toward the forest of ashes.

In the burned forest, the trunks of trees standing like so many blackened teeth, the Denvedah searched for days. Charred flesh and bones, arranged in ceremonial rings, were found by the warriors. All were dead, the only sounds being the hiss and crack of the few remaining fires.

It was Uhe who found the lone survivor. It was a baby, half-covered by the body of its parent. The baby’s legs were burned, and the ruler of the Denvedah had Daes send a healer to treat the child. When Uhe was certain that the child would live, it had the child sent back with the healer to the Sixth Denve to be reared as its own.

Uhe named the child "of the world," and it was forever after called Sindieah.

The finish of the next year saw the surrender of the last of the Kuvedah and the Denvedah victorious across the face of Sindie. On the top of Butaan Mountain, a mighty hill of rock near the Akkujah, just north of the Great Cut, Uhe gathered its warmasters and overmasters. And Uhe spoke:

"You have fulfilled Aakva’s new Law of War. Now I tell you that a new Law of Peace is the wish of the Parent of All. The servants of Aakva shall meet here in ten days. At that time, they shall choose from their number a chief of servants, who will then see to keeping the new law.