Barry Longyear: Enemy Papers

Anger crossed Conseh’s face. "Uhe, we have all this information. We can defeat them! We are trained, and we outnumber them."

"Do as I say, Conseh." When the warmaster did not move, Uhe stared into Conseh’s eyes. "Yes, we can wade into them and slaughter them, and by so doing we can also lose many good warriors. All hunters know that it takes no skill with a spear to get a kill when the weapon is flung into a herd. But think upon this, Conseh. Waiting out there are almost two derive of armed Sindie with the will it takes to face an army that has seen nothing but victory. Think of what they and their weapons would mean if they were added to the Denvedah. This is what I will be thinking of as I tell the children of Lekki and Pitea the nature of the price paid by their parents. Now go and do my bidding, Conseh. I will never again justify my orders to you."

Conseh watched as Uhe turned and went into its tent. And then the warmaster gathered its runners, telling them to give Uhe’s order to the warmasters of the other denve. After the runners had left, Conseh squatted next to the dead scout’s body. And the warmaster asked:

"Pitea, we have invaded their land, taken their crops, and killed their children, siblings, parents, and friends. And now they wait for us, sharp metal in their hands, praying to Aakva for our blood. From where you are now, Pitea, can you see how Uhe will transform this army that waits to blood us into faithful Denvedah?"

The warmaster looked back toward the lightening skies. The breath of a prayer touched Conseh’s lips, then shame covered its face. "Do I feel this shame, Pitea, because I pray to that in which I do not believe? Or do I feel this shame because I offer to my true god the prayer of a murderer?"

Conseh stood and walked away, letting the dead scout keep its answers.

That evening, as Aakva sank into the Land of Death, the inside of Uhe’s tent was bright with torch light. Gathered upon the ground before Uhe were five scouts, and Kioe, the maker of maps. After Uhe dismissed them, the warmasters were called. When they had assembled in the tent and were seated around the map, Uhe spoke to them:

"The scouts have confirmed what Pitea paid with its life to bring to us. Facing us are eight thousand. To the north are eleven thousand more. All are armed and stand ready to fight."

Birula pointed at the map. "And for this we have wasted an entire day? This we already knew."

"There is more." Uhe squatted next to the map and pointed. "This is the valley where we are now." Uhe’s finger moved. "Here upon the mountainside facing us are the traps prepared by the Irrvedah, and behind them, beyond the crest, are the eight thousand." Uhe’s finger moved again. "But beyond the eight thousand there is another mountain, and upon it stands the ruler of the Irrvedah, the Great Tocchah."

Uhe rested its arms upon its knees and clasped its hands. "You should know this, as well. The Irrvedah was surprised that we did not attack this morning. This has had three results. First, the eight thousand spends this night in a different place than was planned. Their supplies of food are still being held by the eleven thousand to the north."

Yaga held out its hands. "Missing a day’s food is no great burden."

Uhe smiled and nodded at Yaga. "Not to those who have had to eat their young, Yaga. But the Irrvedah has never known hunger. But listen. They build fires and fill their bellies with wine, for they believe us to be afraid of them."

The warmasters laughed. Conseh, however, remained impassive. "Uhe, how does this avoid a battle?"

"Perhaps it does not, Conseh. But consider this: Tocchah has not organized its warriors in stages as we have done. Tocchah commands directly even the smallest of units."

Conseh rubbed its chin and nodded. "As with the pida bug, if its head is removed, its many legs are without direction."

Uhe looked around at the faces of its warmasters. "The Irrvedah makes light, noise, and free with melon wine this night. Conseh, you will have your first undermaster order its sedenve to darken their skins with mud, and have them carry only their butcher axes. They will wait until full dark and then they will move east. Have them memorize well the positions of the traps on the mountainside in order that they may avoid them. The sedenve then shall move quietly through the eight thousand Irrvedah and capture Tocchah alive."

There was a murmur of surprise among the warmasters. As soon as they quieted, Uhe continued. "Those of our warriors who are captured must not reveal the plan. If any are wounded, they are to be put to death. Any who are captured alive must end their own lives."

Uhe pointed again at the map. "The Third and Fourth Denve will hold this place here where we now stand, and the Tsien Denvedah shall move west, and they must run. Before morning’s light, the Tsien Denvedah must reach the western end of the eleven thousand Irrvedah to the north, go around it, and then spread out on the high ground behind them. It is vital that knowledge of their action not be known until I choose to reveal it."

Uhe stood and looked at Conseh. "I will march with the sedenve that seeks the capture of Tocchah."

The first warmaster stood. "Is that, wise? Should you die, what of the Denvedah?"

Uhe looked down at the map. "In answer to your second question, Conseh, if I fall, you will take my place, and your first undermaster will take the place of first warmaster. The Denvedah shall continue to fulfill Aakva’s Law of War."

Conseh then asked: "And in answer to my first question?"

"Is it wise?" Uhe clasped its hands behind its back. "I have a message to bring to Tocchah."

"All of us have been taught since the womb how to memorize. Anyone can bring Tocchah your message. Again I ask you, is it wise?"

Uhe studied many things, including the dark places in its mind. The ruler of the Denvedah concluded its search and faced its first warmaster. "I shall not wait for your runners to bring me Tocchah’s answer; I will be there myself to receive it. In answer to your question, it is probably not wise. Nevertheless, I have given my order, and the order stands."

After the details of the plan had been discussed and the warmasters had been dismissed, Conseh remained behind. "Uhe, in case you fall, what is the message you wish to bring to Tocchah?"

Uhe lowered itself to its sleeping skins and looked up at nothing. "I am not certain. I will be certain only when I see Tocchah."

Conseh went to the opening of the tent. "I must see to your orders." The first warmaster stopped at the entrance and looked back at Uhe. "It is hard to wait for the results of one’s orders, is it not?"

Uhe closed its eyes. "Yes, Conseh. It is hard. Call me when your first sedenve is ready."

Conseh left to do its ruler’s bidding.

That night, Tocchah, ruler of the Irrvedah, sat before its fire studying the flames for Aakva’s message. The rogues of the Mavedah had not acted as the servants of Aakva had predicted. The lack of food for one day would not harm the warriors, but constant reports of complaining came to Tocchah’s hearing.

Why had the Mavedah not attacked?

Could they fear the Irrvedah? Tocchah studied the facts and put aside its fantasies. Enough was known to say with conviction that the Mavedah feared nothing.

Then why had they not attacked?

Why, why, why?

Tocchah stood and walked beyond its fire. It stopped as it saw the fires of its warriors on the mountainside across the valley. Tocchah waved its hand at the fires in disgust. "Warriors, dah!"

They celebrated a victory that did not exist. Most of them, farmers, harvesters, and fruit pickers, had never faced war. Although they had trained hard to meet the Mavedah, they still knew more about planting than fighting. Yet they celebrated; celebrated the fact that they had not been attacked.