The Enemy Papers

by Barry B. Longyear

  Uhe stood and looked down at Iyjiia "The Law of War tastes foul to Aakva's mouth, Iyjiia The god would choose a less worthy servant to receive the law."

  The chief of Aakva's servants again became quiet, and Uhe remained at the old master's side until Daes's healer reported and began to treat Iyjiia Uhe turned toward the Akkujah Mountains to assume command of the Denvedah.

  As Uhe walked, it looked at the sky and addressed the light of the red clouds. "Aakva, if you exist, and if you are a God, and if you truly love us, why do you play with your creatures so?"

  As Uhe came among its warriors, all cheered the demonstration of the truth of Uhe's vision of the Law of War. It was then that Uhe asked the metal workers to fashion for it a long knife of black metal.

  With the last of their strength, the warriors of the Mavedah climbed to the crest of the Akkujah. Once there, though, the sight of an immense valley, fat and green, could be seen between the peaks. Herds of darghat moved through the gentle foothills, stopping to drink at the ponds and streams. In the sky flew game birds, and in the valley below were fields of white grain and melons. And between the warriors and the fat of this valley there was only a hastily gathered army of farmers.

  To ease its conscience somewhat, Uhe thought upon talking to the masters of the Irrvedah, begging them to allow the Mavedah to share their prosperity. There would be many who would object and who would be bitter at the encroachment, but there would be no more murders to add to Uhe's debt.

  In the valley below, though, the clan masters and the servants of Aakva were enraged at the violation of the most sacred tabu of the God of the Day Light.

  "The Mavedah has violated the tabus."

  "Aakva is with us!"

  "Drive the invaders from the Irrvedah!"

  "In the name of Aakva!"

  "Kill the Mavedah!"

  The Irrvedah attacked first, and their effort involved little more than bellows and cries. Conseh and Nuvvea waited until the farmers were close, and then drove through them, the Irrvedah melting before the Tsien Denvedah. Conseh's Denve moved forward and hacked into the astonished farmers until their arms ached. As the First rested, Nuvvea moved the Second Denve through. Before the day was done, the Irrvedah in the valley who were not dead or wounded had surrendered.

  Tocchah ruled the Irrvedah When runners brought the news of the invasion to Tocchah's fire, the masters of the Irrvedah bellowed their rage. Runners were sent to all of the clans, from the Yellow Sea to the Great Cut, with messages to meet the invaders and throw them back into the Madah. Tocchah and its clan began that night to move west, knowing they fought in the name of Aakva. Before they reached the valley before the Akkujah, though, Tocchah and its clan met Conseh and the First Denve of the Tsien Denvedah on the Sunset Road at the edge of Darker Wood.

  Conseh sent forward to Tocchah two captured Irrvedah, Liku and Ahli. They were brought before Tocchah. "Great Tocchah," began Liku, "I come from the First Warmaster of the Mavedah. Conseh asks that you surrender the clans you have assembled here. If you do not surrender, Conseh says that you will be destroyed."

  Ahli stood next to Liku and said, "The Mavedah have fierce warriors, terrible weapons, and new ways of fighting." It gestured toward Liku. "Aakva has given a new Law of War to Uhe, chief of the Mavedah. Our clans were annihilated in not much more time than it takes to tell the tale, Great Tocchah. We beg you to acknowledge the new law and surrender."

  The chief of the Irrvedah studied the two messengers and then nodded toward the master of its household. "Call a meeting of the clan masters. We will attack now while this Uhe expects us to discuss this blasphemy." Tocchah faced the messengers. "Before you do that, behead and burn these two traitors."

  Once the household guards removed the messengers, Tocchah looked upon its chief of servants. "Yatim, the messengers said that a new Law of War has come from the God of the Day Light. When Aakva speaks to you does the god talk of this new law?"

  Yatim held its hands before its face. "Great Tocchah, for more generations than our oldest has the mind to recall, the Irrvedah has followed Aakva's laws. As consequence the Irrvedah has had peace and plenty. Now comes this plunderer and murderer, Uhe, who comes to take from us what Aakva has denied the Madah for their wrongs. There is no new Law of War, Tocchah. There is only the will of this predator, Uhe. Aakva will protect the Irrvedah as we destroy those who have broken the god's Law of Peace."

  Tocchah, then, stood and held its hands out toward the masters of the Irrvedah. "Go to your clans and have them arm themselves. We shall meet three days hence at the crossing of the Western Road with the Great Cut Road on the Plain of the Gods. From there we will march west until we meet this Uhe and its band of robbers. There we will remove this blight on the Law of Peace."

  On the evening of the third day, as the scouts reported the approach of Tocchah's army, the workers of metal presented Uhe with its black knife. Uhe took the knife, tested its edge, and proclaimed it adequate. Juka Li, the chief of the metal workers, said, "Uhe, I pray that all your enemies will fall before your new knife."

  Uhe studied the blade, wrapped the knife with hide, and thrust it behind its sash. "I have no doubt, Juka Li, that I will find it useful." Uhe dismissed the metal workers, then joined Conseh deep within the Darker Wood to wait for the attack. Long after Aakva hid its face behind the western mountains, they looked through the trees and saw Tocchah's army approaching on the Western Road. "Our murders mount, Uhe," said the first warmaster.

  The chief of the Mavedah said, "Then, Conseh, have your denve close on Tocchah and take its clans down. Perhaps if we spill enough blood this night, the ones we challenge in the future will be less eager to throw themselves into harm. Leave only enough of them alive to bring the story of the horror to the rest of the Irrvedah and to the Diruvedah. Make certain they understand that Tocchah was first offered the opportunity to surrender, that the blood that will soak the Western Road is not my price but Tocchah's."

  Conseh studied Uhe's face and said, "You see them before you now: the blood, the bodies?"

  "I see them now, Conseh. I never see anything else. Go now and fulfill my vision."

  Conseh moved with its undermasters to the edge of the wood where the First Denve was already concealed. The first warmaster waited until Tocchah's tribe was compressed to only six abreast by the narrowing path through the trees. When most of Tocchah's people were in the narrows, Conseh bellowed its command, "To battle! Death to Tocchah!"

  The First Denve hurled its spears from the north edge of the wood. Nuvvea's Second Denve, from its concealment along the edge of the southern wood, threw its spears at the same instant. With spears thrown, both denve raised their axes and closed with those left on the road.

  After the axes were done, there were a few of the Irrvedah left. They were taken over the Western Road from one end of the narrows to the other and back again. As they walked among the bodies, torches would shed their light upon a face, and then another. Once all of the faces had been seen, Uhe knew that Tocchah's face was not among them. The leader of the Irrvedah had escaped.

  After they had walked the bloody trail and had seen the dead, the surviving Irrvedan soldiers were set free to carry the story of Uhe to the world.

  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 com
e 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."

  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 t
hat 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."