Barry Longyear - Enemy Papers

Uhe’s vision of battle served the Denvedah well. The Tsien Denvedah would take the land and the denve resting would turn over the acquired land and its spoils to Kessu’s Third Denve, while the Fourth under Birula would move up to secure the land taken by the next thrust. Yaga and Daes would then bring the Fifth and Sixth Denve up to relieve the fighters, secure the land, and distribute the spoils.

The Denvedah filled itself upon fruit, cake, and grain, and the death drums of the Mavedah ceased their beat. Instead the drums beat an ever-quickening cadence of victory. In nine days Uhe and its warmasters stood upon the crest of the Black Mountains.

As far as Uhe could see toward the east, there was crest following crest, a seemingly endless land of mountains. Once more they waited for Aakva’s light to come at their backs. As they waited, Conseh pointed toward the east. "Uhe, your plan calls for more warriors than we have. The Irrvedah is huge. Should we occupy the great valley from here to the Akkujah and call that our land, leaving the Irrvedah the rest?"

Uhe studied the mountains. "If Aakva bakes this valley with its fire next, what then? We will be forced again to fight, except that the next time the Irrvedah will be better prepared. I will never again condemn us to a patch when there is a world. We do need more soldiers, more denve, though."

Uhe turned its gaze from the mountains and faced its warmasters. "Conseh, Nuvvea, when your warriors fall upon the Irrvedah, you will capture alive as many of them as you can." Uhe faced Daes. "Their children will be sent to the Sixth Denve to become future warriors."

Shifting its gaze from Daes to Conseh, Uhe continued. "The adults captured will be told of Aakva’s new Law of War, and of the ordeal that proved this law true. You will tell them, as well, of the Battle of the Darker Wood Narrows, which has a lesson of its own. Tell your captives that they may become a part of this new tribe, the Denvedah, and by so doing they may serve the new law." Uhe looked at Kessu and Birula. "Place the captives first in the Third and Fourth Denve. Should they prove loyal and fit, then move them to the Tsien Denvedah, Then as we move forward, we shall grow in numbers and strength."

The warmaster of the Third Denve, Kessu, remarked: "Would it not be easier simply to make the Irrvedah slaves? Under guard, they could take the burdens of supply upon their shoulders, thereby relieving Mavedah for service toward the front."

Uhe slapped the face of the warmaster. "Know this, Kessu! As there are worse things than war, there are things worse than eating one’s young. We fight to be free. We do not fight to make slaves."

Kessu then demanded, "What, then, shall we do with those who do not die in battle, but who also refuse to serve the Denvedah? There will be such, Uhe. What shall we do with them?"

Uhe turned until it faced toward the west and the Akkujah Mountains. "Beyond those mountains, Kessu, are the barren wastes once ruled by the Mavedah." Uhe lifted its arm and pointed there. "Should you capture those who refuse to serve Aakva’s Law of War, head them toward the Madah. Say to them that they are now vemadah: outcasts. This will be their new place, and it is a fitting place for those who will fight for neither the Irrvedah or the Denvedah."

Facing its warmasters once again, Uhe said, "But also tell them this: if the time ever comes that sees the water, grass, and game return to the Madah, the Denvedah will come to claim that land for the Sindie, the people of the world. Never again shall one tribe starve because of a boundary, tabu, or law while other tribes live in plenty. We are the Sindie: one people. But one’s place in this people is no birthright. It is a value to be earned. Tell them these things that I tell you and then let them choose."

As Uhe saw it, it came to be.

With each mountain and valley crossed, the Denvedah saw the Irrvedah fight more fiercely for its land. And with each mountain and valley conquered, the Denvedah grew stronger as it fed upon the bounty of the Akkujah and as the captured Irrvedah joined the ranks of the Denvedah. Few Irrvedah chose to inhabit the Madah as outcasts. Tocchah, however, remained elusive.

On the morning of a new day, the scouts reported to their warmasters that half of the Black Mountain crests had been crossed. The Denvedah prepared to advance through the next valley to the next crest.

Aakva’s light had just stained the sky when a lone scout from the First Denve was carried by two warriors and placed at Uhe’s feet. Conseh was with them, and the warmaster commanded the scout: "Speak to Uhe the words you said to me."

The life blood stained the scout’s skins, and its breath was short. "My name is Pitea. My child, Rohmuna, is under Daes’s care with the Sixth Denve."

Pitea opened its eyes and looked up at Uhe. "Ruler of the warmasters, you must see that my child learns of its parent’s deeds."

Uhe squatted next to the scout and supported Pitea’s head with its hands. "Conseh, have you called a healer?"

"Yes."

Uhe looked into the scout’s eyes. "Hear me, Pitea. A healer is coming. But if you should die, I promise that your child will know its parent."

Pitea brought up its hands and held tightly to Uhe’s arms. "Just beyond the next crest. Thousands of the Irrvedah wait for our attack. The near side of the crest is prepared with clever traps. Death pits covered with forest litter such that they look like any other ground. Hills of rock that can be loosed down the mountain with the single blow of a hammer. The warriors are of a new kind. Tocchah has learned from us. Its new warriors carry black metal axes, short spears, and shields of hide."

The scout seemed to drift away until Conseh spoke sharply, "There is more, Pitea."

"Yes." The scout looked again at Uhe. "After counting the traps and fixing their positions, Lekki and I stole across the crest to count the Irrvedah To hide their numbers they burn no fires, but Lekki and I are hunters. We moved around and through them and felt their numbers. Waiting for the Denvedah there are eight thousand Irrvedah warriors." The scout looked to its wound and then back at Uhe. "We were captured. Lekki died."

The scout maintained its grip upon Uhe’s arms. "I promised Lekki that if I returned alive Lekki’s two children would know their parent."

Uhe nodded. "I will see that it is done. What are their names?"

The scout’s hands released their grip and dropped to the ground. Conseh squatted across from Uhe and helped lower Pitea’s head. Once the body was arranged in death, Conseh spoke to Uhe. "Our northern scouts report that the Irrvedah also waits for us to our left. There are another eleven thousand waiting for us there. They too have weapons of black metal. But although they are better prepared this time, the Denvedah outnumbers them, and with better warriors. We can defeat them, Uhe."

Uhe stood as the healer called by Conseh arrived. Uhe spoke to the healer. "It is too late. Arrange the rites for this warrior."

The healer nodded and stooped to pick up Pitea’s body, but was halted by Uhe’s hand. "But before that, I want you to go to the Sixth Denve and bring to me a child named Rohmuna, born of Pitea." Uhe faced Conseh. "Did Pitea tell you the names of Lekki’s children?"

Conseh nodded. "They are called Mos and Fanda."

Uhe placed its hand upon the healer’s shoulder. "Bring to me as well Mos and Fanda, born of Lekki."

As the healer left to do Uhe’s bidding, Conseh pointed toward Aakva’s light. "It grows late, Uhe. Shall I begin the attack?"

"No. Have the warmasters give their Derive a day of rest. Double the camp guards and send out day scouts. I want careful maps and a detailed accounting of the Irrvedah’s numbers, positions, and weapons."