I climbed out of the water and dressed, wrapped in a calm that didn’t have to be forced. I hadn’t thought about what would happen after the Ratanan, but now I had to think about it. My hamak would take me back to his city, and then I would tell him my news. He had enough on his mind at present, and didn’t need to be distracted.
I got back to the dendarsa camtah shortly after the discussions had begun again, and I could feel Tammad’s relief all the way from the back of the crowd. I looked through a gap in the bodies and smiled at him, and his answering grin warmed every part of me. Various unimportant city matters were discussed through the afternoon, but I paid close attention so that my report on the dendayy would be as complete as possible.
That night after the evening meal, I gave Tammad my report. We discussed possible reactions to various arguments for the establishment of the Centran complex, and I was told which of the dendayy should be read again and more completely. I filed the instructions away for the next day then joyed in the touch of my hamak. He was fiercely pleased with me, and my admiration for his abilities couldn’t have been greater. He was a denday without equal, a l’lenda without fear, a man without doubt. I loved him.
The next two days were unremarkable. I listened to the discussions, read the men, made countless suggestions, and discovered more about Rommar. He, too, was a man with a purpose, but his purpose was to keep Rimilia isolated, and separated within her isolation. He feared and hated the idea of unity, but I couldn’t discover why. I tried hard enough, in order to counter the man better, but I had no luck.
The night of the fourth day, Tammad came back to our pavilion in high spirits. I looked at him questioningly, and he grinned.
“I have just outlined the arguments I plan to use in the next discussions,” he said lightly. “As the subject to be discussed is the Centran Complex, Caffar was most interested.”
“Caffar?” I blurted. “But isn’t he the one who—”
“Who is in the employ of Rommar?” He chuckled. “Indeed he is. Soon Rommar too shall hear of my plans.”
“You gave him counterfeit arguments!” I pounced, finally seeing the point. “When tomorrow comes, he’ll be totally unprepared!”
“Such is to be hoped.” He nodded, pulling me to him so be could run his hands over me. “Upon sword or dagger, it shall soon be decided. No other could have given me the aid you have supplied. You are truly l’lenda wenda, my Terrillian harna. Should victory come, it shall be yours as well.”
“I could ask for no more than to share it with you,” I said, meaning every word of it. We had worked together, and no matter what happened, we’d both know we’d done our best.
The next day was bright and sunny but it felt as if there should be lightning flashes. The tension was high among the spectators of the talks, and even the dendayy were showing signs of unrest. Everyone knew what was next on the agenda, and they knew, too, that any decision made could change their lives forever. Excitement flickered all around, but absolute silence descended once the dendayy were in their places. Tammad didn’t move from his cushion, but his voice rang out clearly.
“It is time that we speak of a matter of import,” he said to the others. “The last Ratanan saw a decision that must now be changed, else our world may be lost to us. I would speak in favor of what is called the Centran complex.”
“And I would speak against it!” Rommar put in loudly “The denday Tammad would have us believe that the offworlders mean us no harm, that our lands shall not be taken from us, that our ways shall not be interfered with. This is but the dream of an aged wenda, who fears the night and so reassures herself with fantasy. These offworlders, these mondarayse, seek to take what is ours with words. I, for one, mean to greet them with sword in hand, and thereafter watch them scurry back to their flying houses, never to return again!”
Ragged yells of agreement broke out here and there among the spectators, but the rest kept silent. Once the noise had died down, Tammad leaned back and inspected Rommar.
“The denday Rommar is fearless indeed,” he drawled. “To face the weapons of the offworlders, which may destroy a man completely from as far away as those farther trees, with naught save sword in hand, is something I, myself, would not care to do. The offworlders may scurry indeed—directly to their weapons.”
Rommar was slightly off-balance, but be didn’t let it show. Instead, he sneered at Tammad. “And if these weapons should be used? I am l’lenda, and unafraid to die! Not all here be darayse!”
“True,” Tammad agreed quickly before anyone else could react to the words. “Yet not all here be l’lenda either. What is to happen to our lands, and children, and wendaa once we have died uselessly? Dying is effortless, and may be achieved by the lowest of creatures. To live, to survive and prosper, requires l’lendaa!”
This time the cheers were for Tammad, and that infuriated Rommar. “And how are we to live?” he demanded. “As scraping servants to the mondarayse? They shall steal our manhood from us as they try to steal our land! We must not allow them to set foot on our world!”
“The time for such foolishness is long past,” Tammad answered coldly “They wish to have the use of our world, and shall have that use whether we wish it or no. They have greater numbers than we, greater weapons, and greater knowledge. We may refuse to allow them entry this Ratanan; by the next, those of us who have not died shall see the deed done!”
“I had thought you spoke for the offworlders,” Miggan put in from his spot. “Your words do not seem to agree with this.”
“I speak only for our people!” Tammad said forcefully rising to his feet. “The offworlders shall have what they covet, yet our people may still survive and prosper should this thing be done properly. Allow them their complex, yes, but with many sides to the agreement. The complex must be built in an area of our choosing; the laws of our people must be obeyed by all who walk among us; schooling in their knowledge must be made available to our young; much dinga must be available for our use. All these things and more they may be made to agree to now! Should they come in force for their complex, we shall be allowed only the right to die!”
“What of the life we have known!” Rommar shouted, also getting to his feet. “Think you our lives shall remain unchanged? That which we have always known shall be no more! Far better that we die than see the ways of our fathers fall to ashes before us!”
“Should we die, the ways of our fathers shall truly fall to ashes!” Tammad shouted back. “Only by living and growing with whatever comes may we preserve what there is to preserve. Our sons shall respect the words of living fathers; they may only mourn and forget the dead. We may die in righteousness, or we may live to struggle for our way of life. I am l’lenda! I cannot choose death over struggle!”
The roar of acclaim was deafening, and the other dendayy were also on their feet, shouting with the crowd. The agreement was there, so strong that nothing else came through. If the mood could be preserved, victory was inevitable.
“You do not hear my words!” Rommar screamed, his mind frothing with madness. “This man shall lead you all to destruction, yet I have never been one to follow blindly. I call this Tammad darayse, and spit on him! He does not dare to face me with sword in hand!”
The crowd quieted immediately, and Miggan stepped to Tammad. “It is not necessary to take notice of that one,” he said quietly “He speaks of the ways of our fathers, yet spurns the laws of the Ratanan. He may be sent from here in disgrace should that be your wish.”