* * *
Bhim declared ten days of national mourning to honour the death of his father. During that time, the people of Thiruzha had to wear only sombre clothes and no jewellery or finery. They had to drink only water and eat the simplest of fare, walk with their heads bowed and keep their children under the strictest control.
'We'll place Bose Raja's body on a raised platform in the centre of the square,' Dhraji said, as she inspected the crushed remains of her father-in-law. 'I rather like him like that.' She smiled at Bradan. 'He's even easier to control now.'
'Did you control him, my Lady?'
'He did as I wished,' Dhraji said. She snapped her fingers to the captain of the palace guard. 'Have Bose Raja's body put on public display in the square,' she ordered. 'I want every man, woman and child to pass him and leave a token of their respect.'
'It shall be as you wish, Rani.' The captain salaamed.
'Those that do not leave a token shall be enslaved,' Dhraji said.
'It shall be as you wish, Rani.' the guard salaamed again.
'Those who do not attend shall be put to death.'
'It shall be as you wish, Rani.'
'Come with me, Bradan.' Although Dhraji spoke with a gentle smile, there was no doubting her authority. As usual, the leopard followed. 'You shall see what happens to men whose shoddy workmanship killed a king.' When she laughed lightly, the leopard lifted its head and licked her hand.
The crowds gathered in the great square again, some laughing, some sober-faced and most in a holiday mood. Bradan sat opposite Dhraji in the howdah, with the sun pouring its heat down and the leopard's head resting on Dhraji's feet. Dhraji and Bhim had provided entertainment before the main event, with a hundred sinuous dancers writhing through the approving crowd. A line of guards kept the more enthusiastic men back with ungentle blows from the butts of spears and the flats of swords.
'Do you like my dancers?' Dhraji asked.
'They are excellent.' Bradan was not sure what answer Dhraji expected. The dancers were the best he had ever seen, shapely, skilled and with every movement calculated to arouse the senses of the audience.
'Do they stimulate you?' Dhraji raised her eyebrows in that suggestive look that Bradan had come to recognise.
'When I have you beside me, I need no other stimulation,' Bradan said.
'Remind me later,' Dhraji said, 'and I will dance for you.' She jiggled her breasts, smiled and placed one finger to her lips. 'Now, watch the justice of the Raja and Rani.'
The crowd hooted and cheered as ten scared men were led into the square, which now looked even larger with the slave platform removed. Weighed down with chains, the men stood still, looking around at the mob, while men and women at the windows waved and shouted to each other. Some women carried children, which they balanced on the sills of the windows so they could obtain a better view of the proceedings. Peddlers weaved through the crowds, selling carved wooden figures of elephants.
'Who are these men in chains?' Bradan already guessed the answer.
'These are the master builders,' Dhraji said. 'These are the men who created the triumphal arch that so tragically collapsed and killed the last raja. It is fitting that they should be punished.'
Knowing he could not help the condemned men, Bradan nodded. 'I see.'
'I know that you agree with me,' Dhraji said. 'Justice must be seen to be done. The death of a raja must be marked.'
'As your majesty pleases.' Bradan salaamed.
'They are slaves, of course,' Dhraji said. 'They were captured during one of the late raja's raids on the Chola Empire, so no doubt they deliberately built a flawed structure to avenge themselves on their captor.'
'That must be what happened.' Bradan wondered if Dhraji was warning him of the possible price of treason.
The ten builders huddled together in the centre of the square, as if the proximity of other condemned men gave them security. Even from his elevated position in the howdah, Bradan could smell their fear. Their eyes were wide and one was openly weeping, while another fell to his knees, hands raised in supplication, to the amusement of the crowd.
'Wait!' Dhraji rose in the howdah and shouted in a high, clear voice. 'Release these men from their chains.' She sat down again. 'One must appear merciful, Bradan. It also gives the prisoners false hope and lengthens the time of the execution.'
'How are they to be killed?' Bradan looked in vain for a gallows or a headsman with an axe.
'Watch and learn. You may enjoy it as much as I do.' Dhraji was smiling as Bhim shouted an order and an elephant ambled into the square.
At the sight of the great grey beast, the condemned men set up a wail of terror and tried to run into the crowd, only for the guards to push and prod them back. The air of anticipation increased. Dhraji leaned back in her chair with a small smile in her face, one hand fondling the ear of the leopard. Bradan studied the crowd, who watched with slack jaws and mounting excitement as the elephant thudded into the square, with the mahout guiding it with a pointed, iron-shod stick.
'I could have put in more elephants,' Dhraji's voice was taut, 'but using only one makes the execution last longer. Now, watch. Watch and learn.' She leaned forward, smiling as the condemned prisoners tried to run away and the mahout guided the elephant toward them. The mahout selected his first victim, who gave a high-pitched scream and tried again to escape into the crowd. Grinning guards caught him and threw him back. The crowd roared and one woman at a window held her child close, pointing to the execution and whispering in his ear.
Bradan saw Dhraji's smile broaden as the victim stumbled and fell face-down on the ground. The mahout stopped the elephant in front of the unfortunate builder and had
