'Varmam are points in the body, here,' Kulothunga pointed to a spot below Melcorka's left breast, 'and here, and here.' He touched her lightly in various places. 'When somebody touches these pressure points, they can either cure or debilitate, depending on the type of pressure used. You know that the body is made of blood and bones and muscle and sinew? Well, there is also an invisible life force that ten vital channels carry through our body. We call these channels Vaayu, with the most important one being praanan. This vital energy is focussed in one hundred and eight special points of the body, known as Varman points. If we strike these points, we can kill the enemy, or else paralyse him, either permanently or temporarily.'
'How does that work?' Melcorka asked.
'I am not clear about that,' Kulothunga admitted. 'Hitting any of the one hundred and eight points seems to stop the vital energy flowing around it, so your enemy will be disabled.'
'How did you learn these things?' Bradan asked.
Kulothunga shrugged. 'Lord Shiva taught his wife, Parvathi about Varman. Parvathi taught their son, Lord Murugan and he taught Siddha Agasthiyar, who wrote it down for the rest of us.'
'Can you show me these pressure points? 'Melcorka asked.
'I will show you.'
The following day, they met again as dawn painted the eastern sky ochre-red, with clouds the ominous colour of blood.
'I have brought two swords of equal length,' Kulothunga said. 'These are the swords our soldiers carry.'
'I am better with my own sword,' Melcorka said.
'So am I,' Kulothunga said. 'I will be superior to you with either weapon.'
'Possibly.' Melcorka tried the primary Chola weapon for balance. It was shorter than Defender, with a broad, slightly curved blade.
Kulothunga's stance was less orthodox than Melcorka had expected. He stood with his left foot extended and his sword held above his head, point down.
'I've never seen anybody stand like that before,' Melcorka said and realised that Kulothunga was no longer smiling. 'Are we fighting to the death?'
'We are practising,' Kulothunga said. 'There is little amusing about swordplay that results in the death of your enemy. There is even less amusing about swordplay that results in your own death. Defend yourself!' Kulothunga advanced quickly, watching every move that Melcorka made as he closed the gap between them.
Melcorka stepped forward. Although she lacked the skill that Defender provided, the scores of encounters she had fought with the sword had taught her more than just the rudiments. She parried Kulothunga's advance, twisted under his arm and swung at his ribs. Kulothunga blocked her sword, ran his blade up to her hilt and pushed backwards.
His superior strength and weight told and Melcorka staggered, to find Kulothunga's blade at her throat.
'You're dead,' Kulothunga said. 'Don't look so depressed, Melcorka, I am the best there has ever been.'
'Does the Chola Empire give praise for modesty?' Melcorka was annoyed at the ease with which Kulothunga had bested her.
'If it did, I would win that, too.' Kulothunga threw Melcorka's sword back to her. 'Defend yourself!'
'No!' Melcorka said. 'You defend yourself!' She attacked with speed, feinted to Kulothunga's right, ducked low and slashed at his legs. Kulothunga gasped, jumped to avoid Melcorka's blade, landed to her left and landed a stinging whack across her backside with the flat of his sword. 'There! You nearly got me, woman!'
'Oh!' Melcorka rubbed at herself. 'You pig! Defend yourself!' She attacked again, feinted left, then right and thrust left, nearly catching Kulothunga, but once again the warrior dodged her sword, and again his blade thwacked her.
'Oh!' Melcorka yelped. 'That's enough of that, Kulothunga.'
'Would you prefer that I used the edge of the blade?' Kulothunga asked. He looked around. 'I think that is sufficient for just now. The sun has risen, and people are beginning to gather. 'You have some skill. I have more. We will leave it at that. Besides,' he smiled, 'you may need to nurse your bruises.'
'You are a pig, Kulothunga,' Melcorka said. Despite this man's posturing, she liked him. She met his smile, as he replaced the borrowed sword with his own.
'You will be glad that we are on the same side,' Kulothunga said. 'That way, you will not have to face me in battle. I am the greatest warrior there has ever been.'
'Yes,' Melcorka said. 'I am glad that I won't have to face you in battle.' But not for the reason you believe. I would not like to kill a man that I am beginning to like.
Bradan was standing under the trees. He was leaning on a staff, his face impassive and his eyes thoughtful.
Kulothunga claims to be the greatest warrior there has ever been. Dhraji is scared of one man, said to be the greatest warrior there had ever been. Is this the warrior who is destined to kill her?
Bradan was also aware that Kosala was standing at the gate, watching everything that was happening, with his gaze fixed on Melcorka.
I thought you were back in Ceylon, Kosala. What are you doing here?
Chapter Seventeen
Rajaraja held his council of war in the public Durbar room, with his son Rajendra, half a dozen commanders and three admirals present. Torches sent out flickering light and cast shadows over the faces of the gathered men who studied the map of the Chola Empire that was spread over the low, carved table.
'What we did wrong last time,' Rajaraja said, 'was to divide our forces too quickly. We struck too far apart. If we had attacked both places at the same time, we might have been more successful. Nobody, not even a rakshasa, can be in two places at once.'
The generals and admirals nodded. Melcorka thought they looked a professional bunch; warriors experienced in the art of war, men who knew that one setback did not mean the end of a campaign.
'What do you suggest, your Majesty?' one grizzled admiral asked. A white scar ran down his face, removing his left eye, a souvenir of some half-forgotten campaign when the Chola Empire was expanding at the expense of its neighbours.
'I suggest we plan our campaign to strike at Kollchi and Rajgana Fort the same day, so this Dhraji creature cannot face both our forces. Man for man, we are better than they are. There is no doubt about that. We have the skill, the numbers and the knowledge.'
'Skill, knowledge and manpower might not be sufficient. We don't have supernatural powers,' a younger man said, rubbing a hand over his chin. 'We are not immortal, while this thing they call Dhraji is.'
The silence lasted a good minute as the men looked at each other. Fighting against warriors was one thing; combating an immortal rakshasa was something else.
Melcorka looked from man to man. 'May I say something here?'
'Who are you?' The assembly of warriors and admirals stared at her as if they had not previously noticed the strange foreign female in their midst.
'I am Melcorka of Alba. You do not know me, and there is no reason that you should,' Melcorka said. 'This man,' she indicated Bradan 'is Bradan the Wanderer. We both have knowledge and experience that you may find useful.'
'I invited these people to this council-of-war,' Rajaraja said. 'Listen to what they have to say.'
At Rajaraja's words, the assembly settled back and the hostility eased, although Melcorka still felt tension and scepticism.
'If I may speak?' Bradan stood up and salaamed. 'Melcorka was a prisoner of Dhraji. She also fought her before, when Dhraji had assumed her rakshasa form, so she knows what we are facing. I was immured within Dhraji's palace for some weeks, and I witnessed the Chola naval assault on Kollchi harbour and Kalipuram Island. Both Melcorka and I were present at the Empire's abortive assault on Rajgana Fort.'
A general with long, curling moustaches spoke directly to Rajaraja. 'They could be spies.' He shot the Albans a suspicious look. 'If they were as close to the rakshasa as they claim, they could be here to gather information about us.'
'They are not,' Rajaraja said. 'I invited them.' The word of the King of Kings was sufficient to quash any but the most suspicious of doubters.
'In Alba and elsewhere,' Melcorka said, 'I have been reckoned as something of a warrior, a swordswoman. If Rajaraja permits me to regain my sword, I will walk in the forefront of the battle and face Dhraji's forces. No spy would do such a thing.'
'If you are with us,' Rajaraja said, 'you will certainly fight the enemy.'
'Dhraji and Bhim defeated us by sea and land on our last attack,' the one-eyed admiral reminded the assembly. 'Any information about the reasons will be helpful.'
'Let the strangers talk,' Rajaraja said.
Bradan waited until the group settled down. 'Firstly,' he said, 'can we vouch for the loyalty of everybody present?'
The atmosphere altered again as men either looked at each other, or glared at Bradan in indignation. Bradan waited for the murmurs of protest to die down.
'These men have served me in half a dozen campaigns,' Rajaraja said. 'They have proved their loyalty in blood.'
'The rakshasas can take the form of any living thing,' Bradan said. 'I worry that there could be one amongst us.'
'Here is a cure.' Kulothunga stalked in from his position at the door. 'I have some water from the Ganges. Let every man present drink from my flask. No rakshasa can drink water from the blessed Ganges.'
'Do as Kulothunga suggests,' Rajaraja ordered. 'I will drink first.' He watched as the flask was passed from hand to hand, with everyone present taking a swallow. Melcorka and Bradan were last.
'Good,' Rajaraja said. 'Well thought of, Kulothunga. You may continue, Bradan.'
'Very well, Your Majesty,' Bradan said. 'I was on board a Thiruzha boat in the latest battle.' Once again, he waited for the Chola rustle of unease to pass. 'The Thiruzha scouts enticed your loolas out of formation and the Thiruzha war-galleys ambushed them. Once your loolas were gone, your fleet was blind, and the Thiruzha ships stabbed and ran, inflicting casualties and weakening your ships both in numbers and morale.'
The Admirals were listening intently, leaning forward with their eyes fixed on Bradan.
'By the time the Chola fleet came to the harbour, it was rattled and uncertain, with many casualties. The Thiruzhas have a chain boom to guard the northern entrance to the harbour, and catapults and many archers on the island of Kalipuram.'
'We had a sufficiently large fleet to take the island and the town.' Rajaraja did not like to hear of the deficiencies of his armed forces. 'I heard that our admiral was killed early in the battle.'
Bradan nodded. 'I did not know that, Your Majesty. That would explain why the attack was disjointed. Your men fought bravely.'
'I would expect nothing else.'
Bradan continued, explaining about the Thiruzha catapults and the bolt-firing weapon, as well as the fire that had burned so many of the Chola ships.
'Bhim has Kollchi harbour well defended.' Rajaraja gave grudging respect to his enemy. 'We shall have to devise a way of neutralising his weapons.' He paused, drumming long fingers on the table. 'I also heard some garbled talk about a great sea monster that attacked our ships.' He looked directly at Bradan. 'Was that Dhraji?'
'That was Dhraji,' Bradan confirmed. 'It is one of her forms. Perhaps it is her true form, I am not sure.'
The assembly murmured in disquiet. 'How do we fight a rakshasa?' the one-eyed veteran asked. 'Mortal weapons cannot kill it.'
'You don't fight it,' Melcorka said. 'You let me fight it.' She expected the rising tide of disbelief. 'Before I tell you,' she said, 'please allow Bradan to explain about Rajgana Fort.'
This time, it was the generals who listened with more attention as Bradan spoke of the stone bridge across the narrowest part of the pass, the iron barrier, the catapults and the number of defenders.
Rajendra waited until Bradan had finished speaking. 'Does the garrison illuminate Rajgana at night?'
'There are lanterns on the walls,' Bradan tried to remember. 'The pass itself is not lit.'
Rajendra drummed his fingers on the table. 'And the door beside the metal gate; was it guarded?'
'I believe not, Your Highness. I was not aware it existed until the garrison marched out.'
Rajendra gave a slow smile. 'That is our way in then, at night and quietly. Rajgana is not impregnable.'
'Perhaps so, Rajendra,' Rajaraja said. 'Bhim has ensured that Thiruzha is well defended. We cannot allow him to remain as a threat on our western border. His ships harass our shipping and raid our coastal villages and his armies loot and rob our lands. He must hold hundreds of our people as slaves.'
'Thousands,' Bradan said. 'Those that survive.' He remembered the dungeons under Bhim's palace and the horror of the executions. 'Bhim and Dhraji rule by terror and Dhraji, at least, plans to overthrow Your Majesty and take over your empire.'
Rajaraja grunted. 'Does she indeed? Now, Melcorka, you mentioned that you could fight Dhraji. What makes you think you can face a rakshasa when my experienced generals and warriors cannot? I have men in my army with twice or thrice your experience of warfare.'
'There are reasons.' Melcorka was reluctant to mention the power of Defender. 'I will keep them to myself at present.'
'Why?' Rajaraja gave the direct question.
'It is against Melcorka's religion to answer that question.' Bradan gave an answer he knew the Cholas would understand.
'I see.' Rajaraja raised his hand in acceptance. 'I cannot say how successful you may be until the day I see you face a rakshasa.'
Melcorka remembered her previous failure to kill the multi-armed sea-monster and said nothing.
'When we attacked the Thiruzha pirates, I only sent one flotilla of ships and a couple of regiments, with a few auxiliaries.' Rajaraja said. 'I underestimated Bhim and Dhraji. I will not do that again. This time, we will muster five regiments with cavalry, elephantry, infantry and archers to attack by land and two hundred and fifty ships to attack by sea. We may not be able to kill the rakshasa, but we will destroy her minions.' When Rajaraja looked up, Melcorka could see the personality that had made the Chola Empire such a significant power.
Every bit as tall and broad as the Raja, Rajendra stepped forward. 'If I may, Father, I would wish to command one of the two forces.' He stood at his father's side, his eyes shining with the anticipation of a new campaign.
Rajaraja's smile was full of paternal pride. 'Choose which you will, Rajendra.'
'I would like the land force,' Rajendra said. 'I would wish to take Rajgana and show Bhim that a Chola army can destroy his pet fortress, despite all his tricks and ploys.'
'Then you shall command the army,' Rajaraja said. 'I will take the fleet and between us, we will squeeze these pirates. Select whichever five regiments you desire, Rajendra, and prepare them with food, water and supplies. I will send Kulothunga with you.'
'No, Father.' Rajendra shook his head. 'I wish to win this battle on my own, without a hero to take credit for my victory.'
Rajaraja gave a faint smile. 'You wish to make your name, I see. So be it, Rajendra. Fight well.'
'Fight well, Father.'
Rajaraja rapped his knuckles on the table, calling the meeting to a halt. 'Gentlemen,' Rajaraja nodded to Melcorka, 'and Lady. In our last campaign, I merely flicked my little finger at Thiruzha. This time, I will use an iron fist. The Chola Empire is going to war. May Shiva be with us all.'
Chapter Eighteen
With further to travel, Rajendra led out his army a full six days in advance of the fleet. Melcorka watched them march past the walls of Thanjavur: the superb cavalry with swords, lances and prancing horses; the elephantry tramping heavily as the mahouts perched behind the huge creatures' ears and the archers and spearmen crammed in the howdahs, waving to the assembled crowds; and company after company of infantry with spears and swords or bows.
The column seemed to go on forever, thousands of soldiers marching to death or glory with the sun glinting on steel, while mothers and sweethearts watched with a mixture of pride and fear and worry.
'It was ever thus,' Bradan said. 'Men marching to war and women wishing that
wars were a thing of the past.'
'Some women march to war, too,' Melcorka reminded him.
They stood side by side on the ramparts of Thanjavur as dawn flushed the eastern sky pink and a thousand birds fluttered and flew around them.
'I had thought the army that attacked Rajgana was large,' Bradan said. 'This one is five times larger. Rajaraja is making sure.'
'I hope that Rajendra takes heed of your advice about Rajgana,' Melcorka said.
'So do I,' Bradan nodded. 'I would wish that we were with him.'
'If you were,' the voice came from below, 'I would be at your side.'
'Kosala?' Melcorka watched the Singhalese warrior hurry up the steps to the rampart. 'What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Ceylon!'
'I've been here all the time, in case you have need of my sword, Melcorka.' Kosala salaamed. 'I thought that you were only a foolish woman until I saw you fight.'
'I'm not sure if that is a compliment or an insult.' Melcorka moved slightly as Kosala stepped to her side.
'I would never insult the best warrior I have ever seen, or the most alluring woman.' Kosala salaamed again.
Melcorka glanced at Bradan and raised her eyebrows. 'I am not sure if either label is correct,' she said. 'Recently, both Kulothunga and Dhraji have bested me, and there are many thousands of better-looking women in this Chola Empire. For instance, the Rani Panchavan is a woman who would turn heads in any company. I am but a plain island girl.'
'You are my goddess,' Kosala said. 'I would die for you, Melcorka.'
'I am no goddess,' Melcorka said, 'and I do not wish anybody to die for me.' She touched his shoulder, smiling. 'I do thank you for the sentiment, Kosala. Now, we had better prepare for war. I think that Dhraji and the Thiruzhas will be a tough enemy to defeat.'
'There is a way,' Bradan reminded her. 'Remember the words of the Siddhars. Use the steel from the west bathed in water from the north to defeat the evil from the south when the sun sets in the east.'
'I remember these words,' Melcorka said. 'I do not know what they mean.'
Kosala frowned. 'The sun never sets in the east,' he said.
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