Enemy Papers

The Talman was outlined and partially written as background material for the Enemy series. Although it was never intended for publication, the idea of reading an alien bible interested a number of readers, which is why I include it here, This is what I have of the work, and if enough hue and cry is raised, I might be coaxed into writing the remainder.

"The Story of Uhe" was first written, in Earth terms, about eleven thousand years ago. The origin of "The Myth of Aakva," passed down through Sindie’s oral tradition, predates it by several thousand years.

KODA SINDA The Myth of Aakva

KODA OVIDA The Story of Uhe

The peoples of the Sindie were divided by the Akkujah Mountains and the Great Cut into the four Great Tribes: the Mavedah, the Diruvedah, the Kuvedah, and the Irrvedah. And the four tribes obeyed the ancient Laws of Aakva.

Bantumeh ruled the Mavedah, for Bantumeh ruled its clan, and the people of Bantumeh’s clan were the best and wisest of the Mavedah.

The Mavedah ruled the Madah west of the Akkujah Mountains, north to the Ocean of Ice, south to the boiling waters of the Yellow Sea, and west to where Aakva slept in the muds and waters of the Land of Death. The tribe of Bantumeh lived not in any fixed place, but roamed the Madah following the game.

The one called Mijii ruled the Diruvedah, and its tribe hunted for game in the lands of the Dirudah, east of the mountains, past the blue lakes, to the poison air of the Melting Mountains where Aakva began its day in fire. And the Dirudah extended from where the Great Cut split the land, south to the Yellow Sea.

North of the Great Cut and the Dirudah was the Kudah, and the tribe of the Kuvedah was ruled by the twins, Hesheh and Vintah. Their rule extended north to the cold waters where the ice and darkness met. And there the Kuvedah fished and hunted for game.

Tocchah ruled the Irrvedah and the Irrvedah ruled from the heights of the Akkujah Mountains and the depths of the Great Cut and all in between, south to the Yellow Sea. The Irrvedah ate little flesh, save that of the swimming creatures from the waters of the Great Cut. At the bottom of the Cut, and in the mountains, the Irrvedah made plants to grow at will, for it was these plants that fed the Irrvedah.

All of the tribes of the Sindie lived according to the sacred tabus spoken generations before by the Doubter Daultha.

For the Irrvedah, the flesh of creatures that stalked the dry land was tabu. For any tribe to cross the Great Cut or the mountains of Akkujah was tabu. For the Irrvedah to leave the cut or the mountains and enter either the Madah, Kudah, or Dirudah was tabu. For any tribe to place an obligation on another tribe either of service, sacrifice, or obligation was tabu.

Because the lands of the flesh hunters were divided by the land of the plant growers, the land creatures flourished there and there was no cause for mistrust or jealousy.

There was peace and plenty among the four great tribes.

All praised the wisdom of Aakva’s servants.

The year of the black rains came and left the Madah barren. Those lands west of the Akkujah saw no water, and the ground cracked and turned to fine powder. The noon sky burned with a blinding blue, while the morning and evening skies were the reds and yellows of cooling iron. The lakes and rivers became mud and dust, and the creatures that swam within them died. The Ocean of Ice became a black sea of putrid oil. The wild creatures of the land fled from the Madah to the mountains, and from there to the lands of the Diruvedah and the Kuvedah.

The proud hunters of the Mavedah could not blood their spears, and so they watched their children cry and grow thin. Soon the Mavedah became as barren as their land. There was an end to love and conception. The hunters clawed at the land, gathering roots, insects, and the skins of the few trees that still lived. But in time even these were gone. The hunters watched their children scream and stare.

The hunters clawed at the bottoms of streams and wellbeds, chasing the precious water as it left the ground below. But the water ran more swiftly than the hunters could dig. The hunters watched their children die.

The low, slow beat of the death drums started and their rumble filled the Madah both day and night.

The constant prayer wails of the Mavedah were sent upward to the God of the Day Light, but the only answer was the oven-breath of the windstorm. The trees and grasses of the Madah withered and burned. Even the wingmite refused to cross the sky.

And the lips and tongues of the Mavedah became too dry to wail.

The Mavedah became too tired to pray.

The beating of the death drums fed upon itself. Instead of burning the dead, the Mavedah closed its eyes and ate the dead.

It was Bantumeh, the ruler of the masters of the Mavedah, who sent forth the call. The masters of the other clans of the Mavedah trudged to Bantumeh’s fire to discuss plans. But after they ate again of the dead, the masters had not the voice to discuss plans.

Near another fire was a lower servant of Aakva named Uhe. It was not very tall, nor handsome, nor strong. In its eyes, though, could be found the water the wells had lost, for the lowly servant cried. That night Uhe sat and watched its child Leuno die of starvation. The child knew its parent to the end. The dull eyes saw little, but the cracked lips set in that drawn face whispered Uhe’s name before Leuno died. Uhe released its child’s hand and watched as the food preparers carried Leuno’s small body toward the masters' fire.

Uhe looked into the depths of its own fire and whispered to the God of the Day Light, "This, then, is your promise of plenty for keeping your Law of Peace, Aakva? Is this the mercy and bounty of the Parent of All?"

There was, for an answer, only silence. There was a cry and Uhe lifted its gaze until it saw a child gnawing upon a piece of cured tent skin, while the child’s parent, a once-proud warrior, watched with envy in its eyes. Near one of the hunters' fires, eight sat waiting for a child to make its last breath. When that breath ended, the pitifully wasted corpse would be apportioned among the hunters. Uhe studied the faces of the hunters and saw that one of them was mouthing the curse of quick death. The curse was for the child. The one who gave the curse was the child’s parent. In the parent’s eyes was only hunger.

There was fear in Uhe’s heart, but its rage chased its fear into the shadows,

It was before that first night’s fire, the sand cold from the night, that Uhe stood before the tribal masters.

Uhe said:

"Bantumeh, great and honored ruler of the masters of the Mavedah, this night you have tasted the flesh of my child, Leuno."

Bantumeh, once tall, powerful and strong, covered its face with its hands. "Your shame is our shame, poor Uhe."

When its hands pulled away, they uncovered a face wrinkled with age, pain, and the scars of many challenges to the rulership of the Mavedah. "Uhe," said Bantumeh. "We have all tasted either child, sibling, parent, or friend this year. There is no choice. To put our minds aside as we eat to keep the Mavedah alive is our sole hope. Your grief is understood; your reminder is out of place."

At the rebuke Uhe did not retire from the ring of masters, but instead pointed east toward the Akkujah Mountains. "There, Bantumeh, is food for the Mavedah."

Bantumeh stood, its face crossed with anger. "You would have the Mavedah violate the tabus? Aakva’s own law? Could we do such a thing, do you not think that I would already have done so?"

A master named Iyjiia, who was the chief of Aakva’s servants, leaped to its feet. "Uhe, this is a beast standing before the masters, not a servant of Aakva!" Iyjiia faced the other masters and filled its image with voice, for Iyjiia was thin and small in stature.

"The law is clear. The Mavedah is forbidden to enter the domain of the Irrvedah, just as the Irrvedah is forbidden to enter the Madah. It is tabu even for us to ask the Irrvedah for food."

Iyjiia faced Uhe and pointed. "Even to wish this is tabu!"

Most of the masters nodded and muttered their agreement. It was a painful law to obey, but its wisdom was understood by all. To violate that law would again bring the wars to Sindie. This was the promise of Aakva, and the wars were too horrible to contemplate.

Uhe held out its arms and faced the night sky. "But I, Uhe, invoke a new vision from Aakva." The masters, and those at the other fires, muttered in astonishment and doubt at Uhe’s words. "Its old law," continued the servant, "was for a time and a place. Aakva speaks to me that the time is changed. Aakva speaks to us all that the place is changed. It is time for a new law."

Iyjiia stood silent, for there was danger in disputing a claim to a vision. If the claim of the young Uhe were false, Uhe would suffer for it. But Iyjiia would pay the same price if it disputed a vision that turned out to be true law. Iyjiia also saw that many members of the tribe had gathered around the ring of masters. Whether the law be true or not, if it promised food it might find support among that gathering crowd of armed hunters.

Iyjiia returned to its place in the ring of masters and said to Uhe, "Tell us your vision."

As was the custom, Uhe unfastened its covering of skins, let them fall from its frame, and stood naked before them all to show the truth of its words.

"Aakva speaks to me now," said the servant. "It speaks of lush mountains to the east, where fat darghat and suda kneel to drink at the cool waters; where the trees are heavy with sweet fruits; the fields crowded with kadda melon and the white grain.

"Every evening Aakva’s fiery fingers point beyond the Akkujah Mountains as a sign. They show me the Diruvedah and the Kuvedah, their bellies bloated with food, their grasslands crowded with game that leaps upon their spears; their children tall and laughing.

"Every morning Aakva points west of the mountains, to this land of famine, and the God of the Day Light says to me, `Uhe, this is my sign that the Mavedah must leave this place. The masters of the Mavedah must go to their clans, tell them of Aakva’s new Law of War, and have them gather at the foot of the Akkujah Mountains where the cliffs of Akkujah fall to the Yellow Sea. From there the God of the Day Light will lead the Mavedah across the mountains, through the land of the Irrvedah, to the Dirudah. And the Mavedah will defeat the Diruvedah and will drive all those who will not submit from the Great Cut and the southern Akkujah into the northern mountains."

Uhe paused, its arms outstretched. Its voice became low and grave as it continued. "The tribes beyond the Akkujah will try to join against us, but too fast will we attack. With the blood command of Aakva at our backs, we will strike through the mountains and across the plains, brushing them all aside. And then we will flood the lands with our victories!

"The Mavedah will rule all!"

Uhe lowered its arms, then stooped and retrieved its coverings. With its skins replaced, Uhe faced Iyjiia "And that is what the God of the Day Light says to me."

Bantumeh studied Uhe. "Wars? Are we to believe that the God of the Day Light inflicts this ancient punishment upon us? What have we done?"

Uhe bowed. "Bantumeh, you are kind and wise. But you are too kind to meet this need of the Mavedah. It matters not what we have done. Following the old law will see the end of the Mavedah. Aakva’s new Law of War will see us, our children, and the Mavedah live."

Uhe looked around at the faces of the hunters crowded about the masters' fire and said, "I see there to be things worse than war. I see our once-proud hunters whimpering and grubbing in the dirt; I see the Mavedah eating now things too low to rank with waste; I see the Mavedah eating now things too precious and sacred to be food. And I see from this the end of the Mavedah."

Uhe faced the ruler of the Mavedah. "Bantumeh, there are things worse than war."

Iyjiia stood and waved its hands back and forth. "You cannot know this, Uhe. The oldest of us has never seen war. And this is only because we all obey Aakva’s laws."

Uhe faced Iyjiia "A tribe does not fight itself, Iyjiia Mavedah does not fight Mavedah. I see a new tribe coming to Sindie. It will be made of every tribe, all of whom are Sindie. Tribe and world will be one. Once there is nothing but Sindie on this world, there can be no war. Thus we will have both peace and plenty. Iyjiia, do you dispute my vision?"

The hunters crowded more closely around the ring of masters, every gaze fixed on the chief of Aakva’s servants. The tips of the hunters' spears glinted in the firelight. The night was still, save for the relentless press of the death drums.

A chief servant of Aakva had a privileged position. Food for its belly, skins for its back, a privileged place in the master’s ring, and shelter of stretched skins to protect against sun and cold. All this was provided by the tribe in exchange for the servant’s studies and visions. To dispute Uhe’s vision would mean ordeal by stoning or fire. And there was always the possibility that Uhe spoke truly. Iyjiia liked its position. Iyjiia was old. "I do not dispute your vision, Uhe."

The roar of approval from the gathered hunters was cut short as Bantumeh stood and shouted, "I dispute your vision, Uhe!"

Bantumeh turned toward Iyjiia "May Aakva clean its waste with your cowardly tongue!" The ruler of the Mavedah faced Uhe. "I would see which of us Aakva favors with the stones!"

The challenge to ordeal was ended by the hiss of a hunter’s spear. The pointed shaft entered Bantumeh’s chest, and Bantumeh looked at it as though surprised. Up at the hunters went Bantumeh’s gaze. "One has chosen for all," it said, then Bantumeh fell and was still.

Those who surrounded Bantumeh’s still body felt the breath of Aakva’s tabu against murder upon their necks. But no one looked to see who was missing its spear. And no one pulled the spear from Bantumeh’s body to see whose mark the spear carried.

As the food preparers closed on Bantumeh’s body, Uhe pulled the spear from it and held the shaft over its head as it faced around the circle. "See you all that Aakva has spoken." And then Uhe threw the spear into the fire. If there was indeed a mortal’s sign upon the spear’s shaft, it went black before their eyes. And it was said that the shaft carried Aakva’s own sign.

One hunter began the cheer, and then all the hunters cheered until their sound pushed the death drums from the night sky. All swore their obedience to Uhe and Aakva’s new Law of War. The masters left the fire to convey Aakva’s new law to their clans, and the hunters left to begin their preparations for the fighting to come.

As the beat of the death drums again filled the night air, the food preparers brought Bantumeh’s stripped and split bones and placed them in the flames of the masters' fire. Uhe was left alone at the fire, save for a hunter named Conseh who squatted next to the flames. Conseh’s hands were clasped because it carried no spear. The hunter’s face betrayed no feelings.

"Uhe, I have a question."

"Ask, Conseh."

"When Aakva talks to you, Uhe, do you hear it through your head, your womb, or your belly?"

Uhe studied the hunter. It seemed to the servant that Aakva’s tabus had taken ghostly forms and were dancing above the hunter’s head.

"Conseh, you are impertinent."

The hunter stood and the images vanished. "My peace demands an answer, Uhe. Aakva’s new law speaks to most of us through the womb and belly."

"Do you dispute the new law, Conseh?"

The hunter waved its hands at the servant of Aakva. "I would not dispute you, for the God of the Day Light’s new law speaks to us all, and with a voice that cannot be stilled." Conseh looked at the masters' fire where the spear was all but consumed among Bantumeh’s blackening bones. "But it is a law that any one of us could have made."

The servant of Aakva looked toward the fire. The shape of the murderer’s spear was indistinguishable from the fire’s sticks. "I have no answer for you, Conseh."

Conseh looked toward the backs of its fellow hunters as they moved into the night to prepare for war. "It is my wonder what the hunters will do, Uhe, once Aakva stops speaking to their wombs and bellies and begins again to speak to their heads."

The hunter left the fire. And to Uhe the hunter left both a question and a truth.

The call of the Law of War went over the Madah. On the beginning of the first day, Uhe greeted the first light prone over the ashes of the masters' fire. Iyjiia came upon Uhe and heard the new ruler of the masters of the Mavedah begging the bones of Bantumeh for forgiveness. The chief of Aakva’s servants said to Uhe:

"Why do you ask this of Bantumeh? We all saw the spear that killed Bantumeh, and that your hand was not on it."

Uhe pushed itself up slowly from the ashes. When it was to its knees, it faced the first glow of the God of the Day Light coming from behind the back of the distant Akkujah.

"Iyjiia, why are you not bringing the Law of War to your people?"

"I have already done so. My people now move to the southern Akkujah. I have returned as is my place as one of your masters. Why do you ask Bantumeh’s forgiveness?"

Uhe looked down at the ashes. "My hand was upon that spear, Iyjiia, as was yours."

Iyjiia’s face grew dark with anger. "My hand bears no such stain! Nor does yours. Has the hunger taken your mind?"

Uhe stood. "Go back to your people, Iyjiia. To enforce the Law of War I need better than the masters of the Mavedah. I will make my own masters, and they will be masters of war."

"And, Uhe, why may I not be one of your masters of war?"

The light of Aakva crossed the crest of the Akkujah and touched the eyes of Uhe.

"Iyjiia, my warmasters must have the strength of youth, the wisdom of the old hunter, courage beyond self, and eyes that can see only truth.

"You are old and weak, Iyjiia. You have never run the hunt. You have no courage beyond your own skin, and your eyes see only what they choose to see."

With that, Uhe walked from the ashes of Bantumeh’s fire toward the light of Aakva.

At the beginning of the ninth day, half of the clans of the Mavedah were gathered near the foothills of the southern Akkujah, near the Yellow Sea. Camps were made, and as they waited for the rest of the clans, the hunters went into the sea but could take no food from the poisonous waters. Those who entered the waters sickened and died.

The Mavedah continued to eat the dead and beat the drums of death.

And Uhe called to its tent the hunter Conseh, saying to it: "Conseh, you will be my first warmaster."

Conseh’s eyes were sunken and dark with thought, but they narrowed at Uhe’s words. "And why would you have me as your warmaster?"

"You are a respected hunter. You understand the difference between killing game and killing Sindie. You know something of the cost of our enterprise. I believe you will see that we get full value, Conseh."

"Uhe, you speak of our enterprise. Is not the Law of War the invention of Aakva?"

Uhe made no response to Conseh’s words, and the hunter continued. "You would use grief and guilt to serve your ends. Aakva’s new law is a strange one for a god of honor, peace, and justice."

"I serve the Mavedah. Conseh, I will use what is necessary to save the Mavedah. The old peace and tabus of Aakva stand in the way of that salvation. Now I shall make a bargain with you."

"What is your bargain, Uhe?"

"Keep your sarcasms regarding my service to Aakva to yourself. In exchange I will forget whose sign it was I saw on the spearshaft in Bantumeh’s chest."

Conseh’s skin paled as the hunter reached to its stone knife and whispered, "I could buy your silence at a lower price, Uhe."

"If you murder me, Conseh, your first murder would have been for nothing." Uhe turned from the hunter and faced the tent’s wall where a map of the southern Akkujah had been drawn.

"Conseh, we must enter these mountains, cross them, and strike the Irrvedah with more force than they can understand. They are not hunters, but they think of themselves as fighters protected by Aakva. There we will obtain food and make a place for our children for when we strike at the Diruvedah."

"The Diruvedah are skilled hunters," cautioned Conseh.

"Yes, but hunters are not warriors. So we must meet them with both form and intention that they cannot comprehend until it is too late for an effective response. We must meet them as warriors."

Uhe moved to another portion of the tent wall where was drawn blocks made of tiny circles. Uhe pointed at the drawing. "You will search among the hunters and bring for my approval five more. The six of you will become my masters of war. Each warmaster will then find six hunters who will be undermasters. They must choose only those that they know to be strong, obedient, and dependable. In each warmaster’s group, the undermasters will in turn search among the hunters and find six more hunters that they know to be trustworthy."

Uhe swept its hand down the length of the drawing. "And so the whole of the Mavedah will be organized."

Conseh studied the drawing. "Three of the best hunters I know are not from our clan," said Uhe’s first warmaster. "The hunters they most admire come from clans other than their own." Conseh looked at Uhe. "This will mix the clans of the Mavedah. It will take away the power of the masters. The Mavedah will be one people."

"Yes. It is necessary. And if it is also necessary, I will deal with the masters."

"Uhe, what of the children, and who will gather the food?"

Uhe pointed at the drawing. "The first two of each six will be the swiftest of the hunters. They will lead the fight. The first will attack, and then rest upon its victory while the second runs forward to continue the attack. While the second rests upon its victory, the first rushes forward and attacks, repeating as before.

"The next two will be less swift, but they must be strong and durable. It is they who will first hold the land taken by the first two. They will protect the backs of the attackers. And they will be there to move up to support the first two groups should the enemy resistance be unusually strong.

"The fifth and sixth will follow, and they will be composed of our poorest hunters, the tent-makers, the ones who craft our weapons, the gatherers and transporters of food, the healers, the wounded, our old, our servants of Aakva, and all of our children."

Conseh studied the drawing until it was fixed in its head. Then the hunter turned to the opening of Uhe’s tent to leave. Conseh paused, however, and turned back and looked at the drawing.

"Uhe, you have set out to conquer vast lands and mighty tribes. This fight will take years."

"Yes, Conseh."

"And the fighters will be gone from their children for long periods—those who survive. How will the child know its parent?"

"The servants of Aakva will tell the child of its parent, and of the parent’s parent. And the servants will have the child memorize and recite these things as Aakva’s new rite of adulthood. The child will know its parent’s and its ancestor’s deeds before it may pick up its weapon and strive to add to those deeds."

Conseh looked at its ruler as though Uhe was more than a Sindie. "You have thought long upon this. Does Aakva truly speak to you?"

Uhe looked to the ground and clasped its hands behind its back. "It is what you will say to those who ask."

Conseh again turned to the opening of the tent. "Uhe, when will this burden be lifted from us?"

Uhe’s gaze rose and its eyes studied the drawing of the southern Akkujah. "Only when the Mavedah can move at will across Sindie, following the game to where the game chooses to go; then our burden will end."

"We are to be the tribe that lives in the land of war," said Conseh. "We will be Denvedah. Uhe, you are saying that our task is done only when there is no more world to conquer."

"Yes, Conseh. Then we may rest. Go now and choose my warmasters. We attack in thirty days."

As the days passed, and the death drums continued, the hunters of the Madah took on the war order designed by Uhe. Since their place was no longer the Madah, the hunters called their place "of war," and they became the Denvedah.

In that time, Conseh made masters of war: Kessu, Birula, Yaga, and Daes. Kessu and Birula were both chiefs of their clan’s hunts, Yaga was both hunter and mountain guide from the northern Madah. Daes was both master of its clan, a servant of Aakva, and learned in healing.

Daes would master the Sixth Denve, for the Sixth would have the children, aged, and wounded.

The Fifth’s main task was to supply the other five Denve, and Yaga was made master of the Fifth.

Kessu and Birula were wise, sturdy, and respected. And Conseh made Kessu master of the Fourth, and made Birula master of the Third.

Conseh itself would master the First Denve.

The First and Second Denve made up the Tsien Denvedah; the front fighters. The Tsien would always be the first to meet the enemy, and the first to take the enemy’s wrath.

Conseh knew itself to be a good hunter, and able to take action when such was needed. But the warmaster knew that the Tsien Denvedah needed something more in spirit than Conseh itself could provide.

It was during its search for the master of the Second Denve that Conseh happened upon some hunters. The hunters were practicing the accuracy of their spear throwing. The hunters aimed their spears at each other to see and feel the meaning of having Sindie at the ends of spearpoints.

The old food preparer Nuvvea also watched the hunters practice with their spears. Nuvvea had once been chief of the hunt, and as it watched the practice, Nuvvea shook its wrinkled head. Conseh saw this.

"What displeases you, Nuvvea?"

"Warmaster Conseh, I have studied the young hunters with their spears. Although they think otherwise, they still act as though they are on the hunt for darghat. On the hunt, if you throw and miss, the darghat will bolt and run.

A hunter of the Diruvedah still has a spear to throw back. And in close the spear is no use, so the hunter attacks the darghat with its stone knife. The darghat can only bellow and try to strike you with its tail. A hunter of the Diruvedah also has a knife."

Conseh looked at the hunters at their practice. "Your eyes see much, Nuvvea. They are still hunters rather than warriors. What should they do?"

Nuvvea looked down and thought for a long time. "The hunter must keep its spear until it can be certain of both a kill and retrieving the spear. To ward off the enemy weapons until such certainty presents itself, the hunter must be shielded."

"Nuvvea, what is your answer to the problem you have made?"

The old food preparer held out its hands, then dropped them to its sides. "There is an answer. I do not know it yet." Nuvvea faced Conseh. "But there is an answer to the in-fighting when the spear is useless." Nuvvea pulled the food preparer’s ax from its waist and handed it to Conseh.

"A butcher ax?" Conseh studied the hammered, black-metal blade. "Are we to go after the Diruvedah as butchers?"

Nuvvea took back its butcher ax and faced Conseh. "Pull your knife, warmaster."

Conseh studied the old food preparer for a moment, then the warmaster crouched and extended its knife at arm’s length, its point aimed at Nuvvea’s middle. Before the warmaster could react, Nuvvea whipped down its ax upon the knife blade, knocking the knife from Conseh’s hand. When Conseh looked at the ground, it saw the knife, its stone blade shattered.

Nuvvea laughed at the warmaster. "Your face tells me that my suggestion is a good one. Conseh, we are no longer hunters. We are to become warriors, and a warrior is one who hunts its own kind for the purpose of killing it." Nuvvea held up its ax. "We will be butchers, Conseh, if we are to defeat our enemies."

"Nuvvea, how many of your blades can you make in the next twenty days?"

"Of all the clans, there must be many. In a land without meat, there is little need for a butcher’s ax. In the lands that we shall see, the meat will fight back. The metal workers can make more, perhaps twenty a day if we can supply them with food. Their work is hard."

Conseh thanked the food preparer and returned to watching the hunters at their throwing.

The first warmaster thought upon the things that it had seen and heard, and Conseh made Nuvvea master of the Second Denve.

On the thirty-ninth day of Uhe’s rule of the Mavedah, the six Denve were prepared to cross the mountains and strike into the Irrvedah, a third of the Tsien Denvedah armed with the black metal axes. Uhe was forward counseling its warmasters in the morning shadow of the Akkujah Mountains when Iyjiia approached, followed by the old masters of the Mavedah.

Uhe was speaking to the warmasters of the need to obtain the heights of the first mountain crest before Aakva’s light blinded them, and then waiting until Aakva was at their backs before striking into the valley.

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"

The old master looked away, then let its pained gaze fall upon the red clouds above the mountains. "l am the chief of Aakva’s servants. Why did not the God of the Day Light choose me to receive its new Law of War?"

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 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."

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.

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!"

Conseh rushed outside and looked at the spires of smoke, now five in number. "It is impossible, Uhe. I would not disobey you, and my warmasters would not disobey me." Conseh studied the forest more closely. "Look, Uhe! The Diruvedah sets its own fires!"

And it was true. The fires could be seen to begin deep within the forest, far beyond the limits of the Denvedah. The gentle winds blew south toward the Great Cut. The first tongues of flame became visible above the treetops.

Uhe took a step forward, its fist in the air, and screamed, "Mijii! Mijii! You are insane!"

Uhe turned to Conseh. "Have the order spread to the front lines that any of the Diruvedah trying to escape the flames are to be allowed to do so. Take them, and guard them, but let them through."

Conseh ran toward its staff of runners. Uhe looked back at the forest. The entire front was smoke and flame, obscuring the unburned trees behind. "This is a crime you do, Mijii! A crime against Aakva! A crime against the Sindie!"

Tocchah came to a stop next to Uhe. "Watch those flames, ruler of the Denvedah. I would not—did not, could not—do the same. But you cannot imagine the pride I feel at this moment."

"Pride?" Uhe’s eyes were wide as they turned to stare at Tocchah. "Pride?"

"They would rather die at their own hands than at yours or the Madah’s. They would rather burn themselves and their children than serve your cause. Yes. Pride."

Uhe grabbed Tocchah’s arm. "It is not my cause, Tocchah! It is Aakva’s!"

Tocchah pulled its arm free and looked at the ruler of the Denvedah. "You say that there are worse things than war; worse things than eating one’s young! I tell you this, Uhe: there are worse things than dying in the manner of the Diruvedah!"

Tocchah left, and Uhe stared at the burning forest. The ruler of the Denvedah stood for two days and nights watching the flames and smoke. Upon the morning of the third day, a runner approached Uhe bearing food. Uhe ignored the food, but told the runner: "Bring word to Nuvvea. The Northern Denvedah is to go down into the lands of the Kuvedah. Tell Nuvvea that Conseh will take the Northern Denvedah and will cross the Great Cut here. Conseh will be in the land of the Kuvedah within three days. Go."

The runner left, and Uhe was overheard to say: "And by the bones of my child, Leuno, if the Kuvedah prefers death to the Denvedah’s victory, then let them be quick about it. I would spend no more good warriors' lives upon meaningless gestures. You disgust me, Mijii; and you corrupt the memory of a great people. If you refused me your service by dying with a blade in your hand, perhaps then you would be hero. But you are a coward and you have murdered your people."

The ruler of the Denvedah lowered its head and began walking toward the forest of ashes.

In the burned forest, the trunks of trees standing like so many blackened teeth, the Denvedah searched for days. Charred flesh and bones, arranged in ceremonial rings, were found by the warriors. All were dead, the only sounds being the hiss and crack of the few remaining fires.

It was Uhe who found the lone survivor. It was a baby, half-covered by the body of its parent. The baby’s legs were burned, and the ruler of the Denvedah had Daes send a healer to treat the child. When Uhe was certain that the child would live, it had the child sent back with the healer to the Sixth Denve to be reared as its own.

Uhe named the child "of the world," and it was forever after called Sindieah.

The finish of the next year saw the surrender of the last of the Kuvedah and the Denvedah victorious across the face of Sindie. On the top of Butaan Mountain, a mighty hill of rock near the Akkujah, just north of the Great Cut, Uhe gathered its warmasters and overmasters. And Uhe spoke:

"You have fulfilled Aakva’s new Law of War. Now I tell you that a new Law of Peace is the wish of the Parent of All. The servants of Aakva shall meet here in ten days. At that time, they shall choose from their number a chief of servants, who will then see to keeping the new law.

"You will disband your warriors and make them hunters and farmers again, keeping only one sedenve of the Tsien Denvedah to do the bidding of the chief of servants in its quest to bring this world to peace and plenty. The rest shall return to raising children, hunting, living, and worshipping Aakva."

Conseh stood forth from the gathering. "Uhe, the servants must choose you as the chief of servants."

"No." Uhe looked down at the rocks of Butaan Mountain. "You will go now and do my bidding." Uhe motioned toward the old Mavedah chief of servants. "Iyjiia, you shall remain here."

The assembled warmasters walked slowly from the mountain. When they had gone, Iyjiia held out its hands and then let them fall to its sides. "What do you want of me, Uhe? Am I to be killed to clear the way for this new Sindie chief of servants?"

Uhe pulled the hide-wrapped black metal knife from its sash and pointed it at the old servant. Uhe spoke: "Things must change, Iyjiia Those who obstruct the salvation of the Sindie must step aside. Laws that obstruct this same salvation must be put aside. Do you understand this?"

Iyjiia bowed its head. "I understand."

Uhe removed the hide covering from the knife and let the skin fall to the ground. 'Iyjiia, I will end my life upon this mountain."

"No! You have brought us this far. You have unified the people. You must live to rule the Sindie."

Uhe knelt, looked up, and faced the God of the Day Light. "Iyjiia, what it takes to conquer a world is different than what is needed to rule a world."

"Perhaps this is fact, Uhe. But how do you know that you lack what it takes to rule a world?"

"I know, Iyjiia I have lied; I have stolen; I have murdered. Never should the ages be able to describe a Sindie ruler in such terms."

Iyjiia knelt next to Uhe, and placed a hand upon Uhe’s shoulder. "These were the necessities of war, of survival, of the times. We are all tainted."

"The times have changed, Iyjiia There is no need for war now, and no need for a master of warmasters. I must step aside. The servants must search among the Sindie and find one who is neither thief, blasphemer, murderer, or coward. Choose that one for your chief." Uhe looked at the old servant. "Iyjiia, will you hear my prayer?"

Iyjiia removed its hand from Uhe’s shoulder. "I will hear it."

Uhe faced the God of the Day Light. "Aakva, your old Law of Peace was wrong, and I have set it right. This is my crime, and my claim to virtue. Aakva, make yourself known to the Sindie, your children; feed them, keep them warm, and keep them safe. Aakva, in the name of your children, become a more perfect god."

Uhe then lifted its blade and fell upon it. It took but a moment and Uhe was dead.

It was Iyjiia who gathered the brush and sticks to burn Uhe’s body, allowing the pyre to carry Uhe’s life to the side of Aakva. Iyjiia remained upon Butaan Mountain for ten days and nights, praying as the servants gathered there. On the morning of the eleventh day, Iyjiia stood and addressed the servants:

"I have spoken with the God of the Day Light." Iyjiia pointed at the ashes of Uhe’s pyre. "Here we shall erect a tomb so that the ashes of Uhe the Conqueror may always be in peace. Around this tomb we shall construct a great temple that all may come and learn the story of Uhe. And around this temple the Sindie will settle and build a great city through which the people may learn, practice, and enjoy the lessons and blessings of Aakva."

A servant named Osa spoke to Iyjiia. "Has the God of the Day Light revealed to you the name of the next chief of the Sindie servants?"

"There is a child that Uhe took from the ashes of the Diruvedah. Uhe named the child Sindieah. Before it died, Uhe said that the ruler of the Sindie must be one who is not tainted by either war or cowardice. Too young to know war, Sindieah cannot be tainted by war. And it had the courage to live when its people had only the courage to die.

"We, the servants of Aakva, shall rear this child. And when it performs the rites of adulthood, we shall make Sindieah the chief and ruler of the Sindie."

The tomb was built, the temple begun, and the city named Butaan soon covered the mountain, while the world surrounding the mountain lived in peace and plenty under the rule of Sindieah.

All praised the wisdom of Aakva.

KODA NUVIDA

KODA AYVIDA The Story of Mistaan

It was Mistaan who invented writing and who first recorded The Myth of Aakva, The Story of Uhe, and The Story of Shizumaat, as told by Namndas and by Mistaan’s own observations of Shizumaat’s trial and execution. It was Mistaan who heard Shizumaat’s claim of another race existing in a far land; a race different from the Sindie.

Fragment: Mistaan

"Talma shows each one its path. But, as beings of choice, we can choose not to see the signs."

Fragment: Mistaan

"There are those who would fit the wanderer into a place in this Universe, and one seeking such a place might accept this. Moreover, one might find such a place already constructed and accept this as one’s own. However, places that are found are not for creatures such as us. To fit a unique being of choice into roles and places fabricated by others or found by chance is to diminish that being’s choices and its individuality. Each being of choice, who would remain so, must forge its own place."

KODA SCHADA The Story of Ioa and Lurrvanna

The rule of Kulubansu, the overthrow and destruction of the Servants of Aakva, Ioa and the establishment of the first Talman Kovah. Lurrvanna takes over as master of the Talman Kovah. The first invasion of the Orange Ones. The rule of Rodaak the Barbarian, the Talman Kovah destroyed, the persecution of the Talmani.

Fragment: Ioa

"Nothingness is a tool of the mind: the useful naught of the mathematician, builder, and accounts keeper. Nothingness is not a state either of mind or of being. All that exists will always exist; all who exist will always exist. All that changes is form and the perception of form."

Fragment: Ioa

Consider the one who observes that which is around it then asks "What do these objects and events tell me?" Such is the way and the manner of life; such is the tool of those who would live. Consider, as well, the one who searches only through its mind to determine what is, and what is not, and then looks only to the objects and events that support its conclusions and says "This is truth." Such is the way and the manner of purposeless sacrifice; such is the tool of the mad, the criminal, and those who hunger for power.

Fragment: Lurrvanna

Lurrvanna looked up from its bandaged stumps and spoke to its masters and students: "The Talman is forbidden to us. The temple in which we study talma, our Talman Kovah, has been destroyed. The Talmani have been either murdered or frightened into hiding. Our writings earn their authors the loss of their hands. Rodaak and its soldiers would have The Talman disappear from memory.

"But memory is the refuge of the Talmani, and it is there where we shall hide The Talman from Rodaak. Fix the words into your minds; then take them, whisper The Talman to others, and have those others pass the words on to still others."

Fragment: Lurrvanna

"Time is our friend. In time, Rodaak and its police will no longer be. In time, we shall make known again the value of talma. In time, The Talman will again be written and the walls of a new Talman Kovah will stand upon these broken stones. In time, tomorrow will come."

KODA ITHEDA Aydan and The War of Ages

The War of Ages between the Orange Ones, called the Lleghis, and the Sindie.

For over a thousand years the races war for control of the world. The rise of Aydan who turned war, then peace, into sciences. Aydan’s army and a peace of complex balances ends the War of Ages.

Fragment: Aydan

"Aydan," spoke Niagat, "I would serve Heraak; I would see an end to war; I would be one of your warmasters."

"Would you kill to achieve this, Niagat?"

"I would kill."

"Would you kill Heraak to achieve this?"

"Kill Heraak, my master?" Niagat paused and considered the question. "If l cannot have both, I would see Heraak dead to see an end to war."

"That is not what I asked."

"And, Aydan, I would do the killing."

"And, now, would you die to achieve this?"

"I would risk death as does any warrior."

"Again, Niagat, that is not my question. If an end to war can only be purchased at the certain cost of your own life, would you die by your own hand to achieve peace?"

Niagat studied upon the thing that Aydan asked. "I am willing to take the gamble of battle. In this gamble there is the chance of seeing my goal. But my certain death, and by my own hand, there would be no chance of seeing my goal. No. I would not take my own life for this. That would be foolish. Have I passed your test?"

"You have failed, Niagat. Your goal is not peace; your goal is to live in peace. Return when your goal is peace alone and you hold a willing knife at your own throat to achieve it. That is the price of a warmaster’s blade."

Fragment: Aydan

There will come to you at times a blinding vision that fills your eyes and mind, announcing itself as Truth. Step back and strike down this vision and beat it as though it were a brain-sucking monster.

Then, with it lying there limp, bent, and tarnished, if it still claims to be Truth, accept it with great caution, remembering that the most dangerous lies arrive in the most highly polished armor.

Fragment: Aydan

"Should the goal make honorable the means necessary to achieve that goal? Or does the honorableness of the means employed sanctify whatever goal is achieved through them? Or is right rooted in the honor of both means and ends? One choice makes the leader capable of leading a people at war. The other choice makes the leader capable of ruling a world at peace."

KODA HIVEDA The Story of Tochalla

Against violent and almost successful opposition, Tochalla begins the movement to reassemble the Talmani and to rebuild the Talman Kovah.

Fragment: Tochalla

Tochalla told those who would listen about lessons and a discipline that had been crushed and forbidden five centuries before. In the intervening five hundred years, the surviving memories and fragments of talma had become things twisted by faulty memories and embellished by generations of the ignorant and the imaginative.

"We will take it all," wrote Tochalla. "We will gather in everything, much as Rhada did with the many versions of the Laws of Aakva, and we will examine, test, discuss, and challenge everything. If we are honest and mean only to serve truth, then what remains will be the truth of it."

Fragment: Tochalla

I look at a battlefield and see the combatants twisted in death, seemingly still battling in that existence beyond, and I see this knife before me and see an argument for joining the dead. It is so clear to the Talmanist, this wonderful future of health, prosperity, and freedom, and all that needs to be done is to protect this freedom. "Here is everything you need and want in this little box," I cry to the fighters. "All you need to do is open it!"

But first there must be a war to determine if the box should be opened, who should open the box, who should interpret the meaning of the contents, who should select the recipients of the gifts, who should distribute them, and who should tax them and at what percentage.

There is something so deceptively clean about a knife. Suicide is the powerless one’s illusion of killing the Universe. It is a powerful illusion, though. Its temptation draws me to the edge, but it is at the edge where I remember the words of my old teacher, Bakkni Liu, now dead these thirty years. "It would be a shame to end your life the moment before the talma you need to achieve your goals appears."

That is my fear: to open my veins and have revealed to me the answer I seek just as the last drop of my blood hits the ground. I put the knife away, then, and remind myself that the only entity who knows all the paths of talma is the Universe. As a part of the Universe, I will exercise patience and wait for the rest of the Universe to inform this part what the proper path is.

KODA TAKMEDA The Story of Cohneret

Cohneret who, under the rule of the wise Ponu Li, studied the role of accidents and their uses, and the rules governing love and the other passions.

Fragment: Cohneret

"In the past are the mistakes we made. In the future are the mistakes we will make. In the present are the mistakes we are making. Curse the mistakes, rail at them, regret them, learn from them. But do not wish for the perfection of time when mistakes will no longer be made, for that is what we call death."

Fragment: Cohneret

Passion is a creature of rules. This does not mean do not love, do not hate. It means that where your passion limits talma, you must step outside of the rules of your love and hate to allow talma to serve you.

KODA NUSCHADA The Story of Maltak Di

Maltak Di and the codification of The Talman, the teachings, and the rituals: systematized problem-solving strategies, investigated truth, observation, and the method of the witness.

Fragment: Maltak Di

"The Talman does not contain all truth, and never will it. For this generation, and for all the generations of all the futures, newer and better truths exist. We must keep The Talman open to these truths, or see talma become another curious myth of the past. To all of those generations and futures, then: if you have such a truth, stand before the Talman Kovah, as did Uhe before the Mavedah, and speak it."

Fragment: Maltak Di

"Choice' is not an empty word that I use, Arlan; it is the nature of our race. To be alive is to have the ability to have goals; to be of this special life, is to have the ability to choose; and to choose anything is to choose goals.

"Without a goal, Arlan, you are simply taking up space not only in this room, and this kovah, but in this Universe. Either find a goal, or turn the space over to one who does have a goal."

Fragment: Maltak Di

And Maltak Di said to the student: "I have sixteen beads in my hand. I’ll give you six beads, how many beads will I have in my hand?"

"You will have ten, Jetah."

"Hold out your hand." And the student did so. Maltak Di then dropped six beads into the student’s hand and opened its own hand to show that it was empty.

"You lied, Jetah!"

"Yes. Your response to my question should have been Jetah, open your hand and let me, first, see the sixteen beads. Instead you answered from ignorance."

"Jetah, that is not fair!"

"Now you answer from stupidity."

Fragment: Maltak Di

Maltak Di drew upon the slate a circle and a square, and then it connected the two figures with two lines. Of the first student, Maltak Di asked: "Nyath, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?"

"There are two paths, Jetah."

"Nyath, you may not stay; you cannot learn." Maltak Di faced the second student. "Oura, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?"

"Jetah, if the two paths are repeated turn-in-turn, there can be many."

"Oura, you may stay; perhaps you can learn." Maltak Di faced the third student. "Irrisa, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?"

"A number without finite limit, Jetah."

"Irrisa, you must stay. Perhaps one day you can teach."

KODA OVSINDA The Story of Lita

Lita’s further investigations of truth and the realities of illusions

Fragment: Lita

The unintentional chain of events we call an accident describes paths as real as any path planned, diagrammed, and executed in principle with talma. And if the accident alters the present to the more desirable future, this special kind of path has the advantage of having already been proven valid.

Fragment: Lita

"Without a key, a door is a wall. Without a door, a key is but matter. A door with a key in the presence of mind is an opening. Without mind, neither the key, the door, nor the opening can exist.

Fragment: Lita

"Are we to ignore a truth revealed through crime because the method of obtaining the truth is somehow tainted? Nonsense. Truth is truth. The crime would be to ignore it."

KODA SIOVIDA The Story of Faldaam

Faldaam, first Ovjetah of the Talman Kovah, supervised the movement of the Talman Kovah from Butaan to the new city of Namndas’s Mark. Faldaam investigated the problems of meaning and language.

Fragment: Faldaam

"Words are maps to existence. Once you travel a portion of reality, it is possible to know the meaning of its words. If all you have before you, though, are words, all you can consider are meaningless croaks and marks."

Fragment: Faldaam

The student asked, "Ovjetah, what is knowledge?"

Faldaam studied the question, and the student. "Knowing that you do not know, bright light, is knowledge."

KODA SINUVIDA The Story of Zineru

Zineru taught talma through individual and team sports. Its principal work investigates communication and the casting of lessons.

Fragment: Zineru

The learned student has much to contribute to the game. However, the hard truths, the ones that cannot be manipulated, will be told to us by the players.

The players have seen and felt the metal; the students have only theorized about it.

KODA SIAYVIDA The Story of Ro

Ro extended the application of the principles of talma to crime and the law. A militant movement among a sect of the Talmani to remove the Myth of Aakva from The Talman was opposed and defeated by Ro. Students of Ro’s were the discoverers of the projected death of the Planet Sindie.

Fragment: Ro

We place these words on paper and carve them into stone which gives them more authority than any words deserve. As future generations learn, these words may become less guides to truth and more objects of mindless reverence unless those future students retain the courage to amend the incorrect and discard the false. Truth above self; truth above family; truth above clan, tribe, and nation; truth above gods; truth above all.

Fragment: Ro

The tool of the one who acts becomes the one who acts. The one who murders is no more responsible than the one who orders the murder and provides the weapon and compensation—and no less.

KODA SISHADA The Story of Atavu

Atavu was Ovjetah of the Talman Kovah at the time of the civil war between the supporters of the Talmani and the Tieyki, those who would remain. Upon the end of the war and the victory of the Talmani, Atavu and the Jetai Diea of the Talman Kovah left with the generation ships.

Fragment: Atavu

Sometimes I contemplate this awful vastness of the space we travel through. Giant stars are but particles of dust in the scheme of this Universe. And we search for an even smaller particle upon which to refound our race. It is an awesome task. But is it as frightening a task as Uhe’s vision set before it? In out hearts we only challenge the Universe as we know it, and we know it very well.

Uhe challenged what it thought to be God.

Fragment: Atavu

Truth of nature and import of meaning are not matters determinable by a consensus. If only one being understands the meaning, the meaning is understood. If only one being sees the truth, the truth is seen.

KODA SHITEDA The Story of Poma

After seventy-one generations aboard the ships, Poma was the Jetah who discovered and chose the planet upon which the race was refounded. The planet was named Draco for the elderly Ovjetah who died as the ships made landfall. Poma became the first Ovjetah of Planet Draco’s Talman Kovah set in the camp that eventually became the city of Sindie.

KODA SIHIVEDA The Story of Eam

As the explorers of Draco began the colonization of other planets, Eam formulated its talma of colonization.

KODA SITAKMEDA The Story of Namvaac

The Thousand-Year War, where thirty-one planets of the Rutaan Alliance combined to separate from Draco. Hundreds of years into the rebellion, Planet Draco under siege, the Ovjetah of the Talman Kovah chose Namvaac to take the Talman Kovah and its students and hide them within the vastness of space.

Fragment: Namvaac

And the student said to Namvaac, "Jetah, the darkness covers all the Universe. It is such an all-powerful evil, I feel so small and helpless within it. Next to this darkness, the black of death seems so bright."

Namvaac studied the hooked blade, then handed it back to the student. "Where you are now, child, Tochalla has been before you. It, too, was in darkness. It, too, had a knife. But Tochalla also had talma."

KODA SINUSHADA The Story of Ditaar

The end of the Thousand-Year War under the stewardship of Ovjetah Ditaar, who designed and formed the Dracon Chamber to govern the seventy-two planets colonized from Planet Draco.

"What are the goals? What are the intended goals? Whose goals are served by the event? Whose goals are intended to be served by the event?

"The more of the truths you acquire that you need to satisfy these questions, the closer you will be to understanding the situations that arise between creatures. And understanding the event is but a particle away from controlling its nature and effects."

"I have stood where the Kathni have stood, and the universe is a different thing through their eyes. Long ago Lurrvanna taught us that logic is a creature of context and invention. If this was true for beings inhabiting the same planet for uncounted thousands of years, can it be less true for beings evolving from separate environments, inhabiting different planets?"

KODA NUSINDA The Eyes of Joanne Nicole

Written by the first Ovjetah of Earth’s Talman Kovah, Tessia Lewis, it is the story of Joanne Nicole, a USEF soldier captured during the USE-Draco War, and who became part of a talma to peace. Its publication for human audiences was under the title, The Tomorrow Testament.