'See what we have prepared for Bose Raja.' Dhraji pointed with an elegant hand.
Bradan could hardly have missed the tremendous triumphal arch that stood a hundred paces outside the eastern gate. Twice as tall as an elephant, the arch was made of intricately carved stone, so that the elephant-headed god Ganesha and the monkey-headed god Hanuman combined in a multi-armed goddess that jolted Bradan with unpleasant comparisons with sea monsters.
'That's Kali.' Dhraji responded to Bradan's unspoken question. 'She is one of our goddesses. Do you like your archway?'
'It's very impressive.' Bradan looked up as a fast column of dust indicated that a horseman was approaching at a gallop. 'Somebody's coming.'
It was significant that the rider approached Dhraji rather than Bhim. Dhraji nodded toward her husband and the horseman reined up beside Bhim's elephant. 'Bose Raja is coming!' he shouted.
'That's not hard to see.' Bradan pointed to the haze of dust that nearly blocked their view of the distant Ghat Mountains. The air was sultry here, with insects clouding around and the smell of vegetation mingling with the various stenches from the city.
The music drifted across a few minutes later as the dust cloud came steadily closer, with the howdahs of a score of elephants looming above the dust like ships floating on a dun-coloured sea. Outriders charged forward, to wheel in front of the triumphal arch, raise their swords, yell in salute and gallop past in a flurry of flapping cloaks, glittering steel and thundering hooves.
'Here they come!' Dhraji sounded quite excited as she gripped Bradan's arm and leaned forward. 'Watch closely now, Bradan. You are about to see history being made.'
As they neared the arch, horsemen broke from the approaching army and formed two lines on the outside, a standing guard of honour for Bose Raja on his elephant. On a word from the cavalry captain, each horseman drew his sword and raised it high, creating a corridor of glittering steel. The raja raised his flag, the same snarling yellow beast on a blue background that had graced his fleet. The silk flowed and fluttered as the elephant walked sedately forward. With the cover of the howdah removed, Bose Raja stood up so that his people could see him. Tall and broad, with a luxurious, down-curving moustache decorating the stern face of a warrior, Bose Raja raised both hands in the air as he approached the great arch.
'Bose Raja is returning from an expedition to the Chola borderlands,' Dhraji explained. 'He has a hundred camel-loads of treasure to add to our vaults, and three hundred more slaves for labouring and domestic duties.'
'No wonder the crowd is happy,' Bradan said.
The crowd was cheering, the warriors raising swords, shields and spears in salute as the raja's mahout guided his elephant under the magnificent stone arch. For a moment, the shadow of the arch concealed Bose Raja.
'Now,' Dhraji said softly and lifted her left hand. Bradan heard the rumble before he saw the movement, and then the entire left side of the arch collapsed. Scores of tons of stone fell, knocking the elephant down, instantly killing the mahout and tossing Bose Raja onto the ground. The raja struggled to his feet, shouting something and staring at Bhim and Dhraji. Above him, the remaining side of the arch tottered but held.
'Now,' Dhraji repeated softly and lifted her right hand. The remainder of the arch shook, shuddered and crumbled. A block of carved stone fell directly on top of Bose Raja, crushing him, so only his head protruded. A smear of blood spread from underneath the stone.
Bradan saw a quick smile cross Dhraji's face before she masked her emotions with a look of horror.
A shuddering gasp arose from the crowd as men and women clustered around to try and save the raja. Bradan made to jump from the howdah, only for Dhraji to grip his arm. 'Stay there, Slave Bradan,' she said quietly. 'This situation does not concern you.'
'He might still be alive,' Bradan said, more in hope than expectation.
'He is dead.' Dhraji regained her smile. 'He is dead and now Bhim and I are Raja and Rani in truth.' She patted Bradan's thigh. 'I told you that you would witness history today, Bradan.'
'You mean…?' Bradan gestured to the mass of masonry that lay in a tumbled heap on top of the late Raja. 'You knew this was going to happen?' He remembered Dhraji's small gestures before the masonry collapsed.
Dhraji intended this; I am not sure how she did it. That woman is not merely evil, she has some sort of power. She is even more dangerous than I had thought.
'Of course.' Dhraji looked surprised that Bradan should have to ask. 'I wanted to be Rani, and Bose Raja was in my way. What better time to get rid of him than when he is at the height of his prestige, all proud and gallant and brave – and with his defences down!' She laughed again. 'And with such a public death, nobody can blame Bhim for Bose's death. It was obviously a tragic accident. Now I will execute a few builders for their shoddy workmanship, purge the palace of any of Bose's most loyal supporters and rule through Bhim.'
'I see.' Bradan hid his disgust. 'I underestimated you, my Rani. You are indeed the cleverest of queens.' He bowed and salaamed. 'It is a privilege to serve and learn from you.'
Dhraji smiled. 'Now we must all appear sorrowful and mourn the death of our great leader, who was so foolish as to trust his heir apparent.' She leaned toward Bradan and rubbed her hand up his thigh. 'You will need your stamina tonight, Bradan.'
'I look forward to it, My Lady.' Bradan was very aware of Melcorka riding close by on Bhim's elephant as it walked past. With Dhraji holding
