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."