The Enemy Papers Page 5

"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.

  Tocchah looked up at the mystery of the stars. The Mavedah would not be captured alive. But there were a few Irrvedah that fought for the Mavedah that had been captured. And they spoke of the hand of the God of the Day Light. Its name was Uhe, and Uhe ruled the Mavedah, which now called itself Denvedah. The prisoners spoke of Aakva's new Law of War, and that this was Uhe's charge.

  Tocchah looked down into the blackness of the valley below. It was clear that the warriors of Uhe were well-trained, and that they had numbers far exceeding those that Tocchah had been able to bring to oppose them.

  But why then oppose them? Would the Irrvedah defeat the Mavedah? No.

  Would the invaders go back to the Madah? No.

  Any injury inflicted upon the Mavedah would be more than compensated for by the captured Irreveden who would join the enemy's ranks.

  Even the Diruvedah would not be served by feeding warriors into the ranks of the Mavedah, and the Irrvedah had no interest that would be served by protecting the Diruvedah.

  Tocchah looked again at the stars. "Yet we stand here to fight the Mavedah. Aakva, I ask your children of the night, how did the Irrvedah come to this pass?"

  The ruler of the Irrvedah listened to the laughter coming from the next mountain, and it lowered its head. How many would die in order that the living could proudly say that they went down fighting?

  And how would such serve the living if, in truth, what they fought was Aakva's true law?

  Tocchah turned and looked around at the emptiness of the light cast by the fire. The ruler of the Irrvedah had dismissed its council of masters, no longer being able to stand the empty boasts of ignorant minds. Tocchah's own staff had been given permission to join the celebrations of the warriors who had never warred, leaving only a few guards.

  "And do I leave myself thus exposed by design?" Tocchah addressed again the stars. "Do I invite my own removal from this play?"

  The sounds of hunter's feet brushed the night air, and Tocchah felt its chest tighten. Unless the feet belonged to Mavedah, there was no need for skulking in the brush. And no clumsy farmer of the Irrvedah could walk so quietly.

  Tocchah faced the darkness. "Come out, Mavedah. I am ready for you."

  Seven blackened figures emerged from the brush beyond the firelight. The feeling that many others remained in the brush was with Tocchah. One of the figures spoke to the ruler of the Irrvedah:

  "You are Tocchah?"

  "I am."

  The blackened figure spread its hands, then let them fall to its sides. "I missed greeting you at the Darker Wood. I greet you now, Tocchah. I am Uhe, ruler of the Denvedah. I come to tell you of Aakva's new Law of War, and to ask you to join me in fulfilling the desires of the God of the
Day Light."

  "You would have me hand over my people and their lands without a fight? What must you think of the Irrvedah?"

  "I think the Irrvedah to be growers and eaters of plants." The dark figure swept its hand to indicate the terrain behind the fire. "With me there are over a thousand of my warriors facing the backs of your celebrants." The figure pointed across the dark valley toward the Irrvedah's fires. "Upon the face of the next mountain, and in the valley between, there are four denve; over thirty thousand Denvedah."

  Tocchah feared even to think of the eleven thousand Irrvedah to the north, should the dark figure discover them. It was a caution without purpose.

  The blackened figure continued: "To the north, behind the eleven thousand Irrvedah you have facing us, I have placed my Tsien Denvedah; over fifteen thousand of my best warriors. I answer your question now, Tocchah. I think you and your people to be reasonable. I would have them join Aakva's cause."

  Tocchah studied the blackened figure. "As you said, we are farmers, not warriors."

  "I know this, Tocchah. But they have the spirit to become warriors, and the Denvedah will make warriors of them."

  Tocchah inhaled, and then let its breath escape slowly. "Uhe, how am I to know what to do?"

  "You may guess, you may take the advice of another, or you may consult that which you know to be true and act accordingly."

  Tocchah nodded. "All three tell me to do as you say. But there is another choice: Aakva."

  "Then ask Aakva." The blackened figure remained as still as stone.

  "I have asked Aakva. And my words fall upon the God of the Day Light's deaf ear." Tocchah looked again at the stars. "If I do not agree, am I to die ?"

  The blackened figure answered: "It would simplify the destruction of the forces that now oppose Aakva's new law. But I will not have you killed. You will be sent to the Madah."

  "Murder has many names." Tocchah looked at the ground between it and Uhe. "And if I join you, do my people then follow you?"

  "They will follow us."

  "And do they then go east to take the lands of the Diruvedah?"

  "They will cover all of Sindie to make the peoples of Sindie one." The blackened figure moved more closely to Tocchah. "I would have you at my side in this quest, Tocchah."

  The ruler of the Irrvedah turned its back upon Uhe and pointed toward the fires beyond the valley. "This is not a decision that I can make for my tribe. I do not have that power. If I am free to go, I shall argue your offer before my clan masters."

  Uhe motioned toward one of the other blackened figures. "Conseh, bring two of your warriors." Uhe turned back to Tocchah. "You may go, and we will come with you. My first warmaster's blade-swingers can entertain your people with a demonstration of arms."

  Tocchah looked over its shoulder at Uhe. "And you will be there to cut off the head of the Irrvedah in case my people are reluctant to join your quest."

  "It should add passion to your argument, Tocchah." Uhe held out its hand toward the valley. "We will follow you."

  As Tocchah walked toward the fires of its people, the footsteps of hunters close behind, there were profound questions.

  Why does Aakva inflict the blight and flood on the Irrvedah to show its hand?

  Why does not the God of the Day Light show itself with help when the threat is the most severe?

  Tocchah continued walking, but spoke to the darkness that followed it. "Have you ever noticed, Uhe, that you can never find a god when you need one?"

  "Yes, Tocchah. I have noticed."

  The party continued in silence toward the fires.

  That night the Irrvedah became Denvedah. The new warriors were spread throughout the Denvedah, and three new denve were organized, becoming the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Denve. The Seventh was trained to become Tsien Denvedah, while the Eighth and Ninth were sent north to secure all of the lands of the Irrvedah for the Denvedah.

  Staaga was one of Conseh's undermasters, and Staaga was made warmaster of the Seventh Denve. Two of Nuvvea's undermasters, Chiya and Gidyada, were made warmasters of the Eighth and Ninth Denve, while Nuvvea was appointed overmaster to command the southern denve.

  Undermasters Motah and Dosteh were appointed the new warmasters of the First and Second Denve, while Conseh was appointed overmaster of the Northern Denvedah.

  Nuvvea and the Southern Denvedah were charged with raising two more denve, but to keep the majority of the Irrvedah at their farming, mining, and metalworking to supply all of the Denvedah.

  Daes's Sixth Denve secured the Southern Akkujah, and Yaga's Fifth maintained the route of supply from the mountains out into the lands of the Diruvedah where the three denve of the Tsien Denvedah, and the Third and Fourth Denve, brought the war to the north. All of the denve of the Denvedah spoke to each other at night with shielded fires, and in the day with polished butcher blades reflecting Aakva's light.

  A line marking the lands brought under the control of the Denvedah spread out from the Southern Akkujah toward the east and the north, while sedenve attacked beyond the line at concentrations of Diruvedah hunters. The captured Diruvedah were given the same choice as had been given to the Irrvedah, and most chose to enlist in Aakva's cause.

  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!"