Barry Longyear: Enemy Papers

Iyjiia interrupted. "Uhe, the masters of the Mavedah would talk with you."

Uhe turned and studied Iyjiia. "I see that you approach me after working up some great resolve, Iyjiia. What is it that you want?"

"The masters of the Mavedah have come to challenge your vision."

Before Uhe could answer, Daes, the warmaster of the Sixth Denve, walked forward and shoved Iyjiia to the ground. "I am a master, Iyjiia, and I do not challenge the Law of War!"

Iyjiia stood and backed away from Daes. "Daes, you are either fool or blasphemer. Uhe has colored your eyes."

Uhe restrained Daes and indicated that Daes should resume its place with the other warmasters. Then Uhe faced Iyjiia and the old masters. "It is important that the attack is begun at the proper time, Iyjiia. State your business quickly."

Iyjiia brushed the dust from its skins, looked at its followers, and then faced Uhe. "While we kept starvation from us by eating the bodies of our loved ones, you kept us at the foot of the Akkujah for thirty-nine days. You could have spared us this by attacking thirty-nine days ago. It cost us many lives."

"Iyjiia, it was necessary to take the time to turn hunters into warriors. Had we attacked without the proper preparation, it would have cost us many more lives."

Iyjiia paused, and then continued. "By forming this new council of masters to rule your Denve, you have destroyed the identity of each clan within the Mavedah."

"It was necessary to do this to turn a collection of clans into an army." Uhe folded its arms and held back its head. "Is that all?"

"I have more." Iyjiia gestured with its hand toward Conseh and the warmasters. "This new council of masters you have made. Each has selected those who would follow it, while Aakva’s Law says that each clan must choose its own master by vote, ordeal, and challenge. By taking away the powers of the masters, you betray the Mavedah and the laws of Aakva."

Uhe’s eyes closed. "Now I see the lay of this hunt." Uhe opened its eyes and glared at the chief of Aakva’s servants. "Do you think the salvation of the Mavedah less important than your possession of power?" Uhe turned back to face its masters of war. "You have said enough, Iyjiia."

"No!" Iyjiia moved forward until it stood only a breath from the ruler of the Mavedah. "I challenge your vision of the Law of War. I say it is false! And even if a murderer’s spear takes me now, I say it is your law, Uhe, and not from the God of the Day Light."

Uhe turned, brows raised, and faced Iyjiia. "You surprise me. The removal of your power has found you your courage at last, Iyjiia. And I would stand the stones with you, except that there is an attack to supervise."

Iyjiia pointed at Uhe and screamed. "I have challenged your vision! Before all else, you must suffer ordeal, unless you have changed that law as well!"

Uhe looked around and saw that the warriors within hearing had gathered in a circle to observe the confrontation. The ruler of the Mavedah looked back at Iyjiia. "That law has not changed." Some say that Uhe shed tears as it said, "Iyjiia, I say that your challenge is against the new law of Aakva, and that we shall let the stones decide who is right."

Uhe looked among the warriors. "Eighteen of you; each place aside your weapons and choose three killing-stones." Uhe pointed to the ground at its feet. "We will stand the ordeal here."

Nuvvea, master of the Second Denve, walked away from the other warmasters and stopped in front of Iyjiia and Uhe. Nuvvea stabbed its scarred fingers against its broad chest and said to all: "l, Nuvvea, say that Uhe’s vision of the Law of War is true. And I, Nuvvea, shall stand the ordeal in Uhe’s place."

Uhe began to protest, but Conseh walked forward, saying in a loud voice: "Iyjiia is weak with age, while Uhe is younger and stronger. Having them both suffer the same stones would not be fair." Conseh faced Uhe. "Let old Nuvvea stand in your place."

"Conseh, Nuvvea is needed in the attack," protested Uhe.

The warmaster of the First Denve nodded. "You are needed, as well. But if either of you falls, Uhe, the vision of the Law of War is false. If such is the case, there will be no attack."

Conseh looked around at the warriors, now armed with killing-stones, and then looked back at Uhe. "Neither of you will fall, for the vision is Aakva’s true word. As they go into battle, our fighters must have no doubts. We must settle this now the way it should have been settled before Bantumeh’s fire."

Before Uhe could answer, Nuvvea placed its arm around Iyjiia’s shoulders and began walking away from the warriors to give them throwing room. "Come, Iyjiia. Let us go play with the pebbles."

Uhe was left alone with Conseh as everyone moved to either participate in the ordeal or witness it. Once all was set, the warriors began throwing their stones. At the first throw, Iyjiia was down, covering its head, while Nuvvea stood laughing at the warriors, Those stones that Nuvvea had not danced away from it had swatted aside with its leathery hands.

Conseh nodded toward Nuvvea and spoke quietly to Uhe. "Nuvvea has been studying the problem of the warrior who, having thrown its spear, has enemy spears to face. My second warmaster looks to the sky to see the approaching objects that seem not to move. Those are the ones that will strike unless Nuvvea steps aside or diverts their path with a slap of its hand. Nuvvea has practiced this many times, and has taught the method to the Tsien Denvedah."

Uhe watched the second throw. After the stones had landed, Iyjiia was still while Nuvvea remained standing and hooting insults at the warriors.

Uhe looked at the warriors preparing for their third throw and spoke to Conseh. "Nuvvea is served well by the method it has invented. The same method will serve the Denvedah in the times to come." Uhe pointed at the warriors as anger touched its voice. "But the success of the method would not have anything to do with the fact that all of those warriors are Tsien Denvedah, would it, Conseh?"

Conseh stared with eyes of death at the spectacle before them. "It is Aakva’s own law that all cannot be left to the God of the Day Light’s attention. Aakva favors those who prepare well." Conseh placed a hand upon Uhe’s arm and spoke in a whisper. "Ease your mind. These warriors know how to throw, and Iyjiia will not be killed. However Iyjiia will learn a lesson."

The stones of the third throw were loosed, and when their journeys were done Nuvvea stood shouting foul obscenities at the warriors, while Iyjiia remained on the ground, still and quiet. Despite its first warmaster’s comments, Uhe had to acknowledge that most of the stones had been thrown at Nuvvea, and many of the warriors who threw them were aiming for strikes.

Uhe spoke to Conseh: "Have one of Daes’s healers come and see to Iyjiia."

Uhe stepped forward and shouted at the assembly. "The law of Aakva has been satisfied. The Law of War is the law of the Mavedah. Report to your Denve. We attack immediately!"

As many feet threw up the dust in haste, Uhe walked to Iyjiia’s still form. Uhe squatted and turned over the old master’s body. Iyjiia moaned.

"Iyjiia? Iyjiia, can you hear me?"

Iyjiia’s mouth worked at meaningless croaks that became words as the old master’s eyes opened. "It is true! The vision of Uhe is true!"

"Iyjiia?"

The old master turned its head and forced its eyes to focus upon Uhe’s face. "Can you find it in you to forgive me, Uhe?"

Uhe closed its eyes. "There is nothing to forgive, Iyjiia You did what you had to do. I will have one of Daes’s healers attend you."

"I doubted Aakva’s new law, Uhe. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

Uhe turned its head and watched as the Denve began marching up the darghat trails into the Akkujah. "Aakva knows that the Law of War is not forever. Someday there will be a new Law of Peace. You will be needed to serve that new law when the time comes, Iyjiia"