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."