* * *
'Do you like them?' Dhraji held up a string of finger-nail-sized pearls before draping them around her throat. 'I know other women prefer emeralds and rubies and diamonds, but I like pearls.'
'So I see.' Bradan sat beside the window as Dhraji paraded her pearls against her naked tawny skin, admiring herself in her mirror. 'How many do you have?'
'Hundreds and hundreds,' Dhraji said. 'I send out my ships to capture the pearl divers of Ceylon, and use the divers to scour the ocean bed for them.'
'How many do you want?'
'All of them,' Dhraji said. 'I want all the world's pearls.' She lifted one of the strings from around her neck and held the pearls up to the light. 'They are beautiful, are they not?'
'They are,' Bradan agreed. 'That will be a lot of pearls.'
'All mine.' Dhraji selected a long string and draped them around her hips, so they bounced and danced as she swayed around the room. 'I once said that I would dance for you,' she said. 'Do you like this?'
Despite himself, Bradan felt his heart beat faster as he watched.
I am betraying Melcorka. I should not watch this woman.
'I like this,' Bradan said.
Dhraji wriggled closer, with the pearls catching the light and her eyes dark and inviting.
I have to do this. If I do not, Dhraji would kill me without a qualm and then what would happen to Mel?
'Come closer.' Bradan smiled. 'Much closer.'
'Are you not scared of me, Slave Bradan?'
'Yes,' Bradan admitted freely.
'That is as it should be.' Dhraji smiled as she further emphasised the sway of her hips. She danced closer, brushing against him. 'Soon, you will forget Melcorka, Bradan, as she has forgotten about you.'
And then her revenge will be one step closer to completion.
Bradan did not know from where the words came until he saw the black-and-white haze hovering just within the window.
Revenge for what? Bradan stretched out a hand to touch Dhraji as she bent toward him. 'Fear can be an enhancement in certain situations, my Lady.' And I will never forget Melcorka. I will get her back to herself and then we shall see how dangerous you are, my vicious little beauty.
'Enjoy me, Bradan,' Dhraji said as she straddled him, 'for there is red war ahead. The Chola Empire will seek to retaliate for our raids.' Her smile broadened. 'There is blood and gore and death on the horizon.' It was evident that Dhraji enjoyed the prospect.
Chapter Seven
'To invade the land of Thiruzha, Rajaraja of the Chola Empire had a choice. He could send a fleet up the coast and attack our city of Kollchi, where we all stand now, or he could send an army through the passes of the Ghats.' Bhim spoke impressively slowly. 'Instead, Rajaraja has done both. He has attacked Kollchi and sent an army to the Ghats.'
'So here we are.' Dhraji and Bhim stood in the Council Chamber, with the war leaders and shipmasters gathered around them and two of Dhraji's guards standing sentinel at the door. Bradan stood with his back to the wall, awaiting Dhraji's orders, listening to everything and trying to keep as low a profile as possible. The Thiruzha warriors looked a handy bunch, some with scarred faces as souvenirs of previous battles, and all with long, slightly curved swords at their belts. Bradan was happy to note that Dhraji's leopard was not with her.
Bhim spread a large map of Thiruzha over a low table. 'Come closer,' he ordered. 'My spies have informed me that the Chola Raja, or Rajaraja as I shall call him, has gathered a strong flotilla and will send it up the coast to Kollchi, here.' Bhim jabbed his sword into the map and the watchers all nodded, as if they needed reminding where their own city was.
Bhim looked around at his mariners and warriors. 'At their present speed, the Chola fleet will arrive in three days.'
The nautical men of the audience grunted and looked at each other, evidently worried about the lack of time they had to prepare to meet the threat. Bhim raised a podgy hand to regain everybody's attention.
'In the meantime, Rajaraja has also gathered an army to force through the Rajgana Pass in the Ghats.' Bhim drifted his sword across the map to a dark pass marked in the east. 'Here.' He stabbed down. 'We estimate that the Chola army will take two weeks to reach Rajgana.'
Dhraji, resplendent in tight blue trousers and a transparent top, with three rows of pearls around her neck supplementing her pearl head-dress, clapped her hands and spoke for the first time. 'So, gentlemen, Rajaraja's fleet will come here in a few days. We will defeat them and then we must gather our army and force-march to fend off the Chola army at the pass.'
The lords, chiefs and seamen nodded. One middle-aged man raised his voice. 'We are not sufficiently strong to defeat the Chola fleet, your Highness. We have only three days, barely enough time to load up the ships with all we can carry and run.'
'Who said that?' Dhraji asked, smiling. 'Who gave that opinion?'
Everybody shuffled away from one man, who stood erect beside the map. 'We can raid and burn, Rani,' he said. 'We cannot fight against the entire Chola Empire. I am only thinking of the good of your people, Your Highness.'
'Tell me what you advise, Chera.' Dhraji stepped beside the man and rubbed her hand over his arm. 'My, you are strong, aren't you?'
'We could load up everything and sail further up the coast before the Chola fleet arrives,' Chera said.
'We could do that.' Dhraji pressed her near-naked body against him, lowering her voice to a whisper as she smoothed her hand over Chera's chest and stomach. 'Do you think that is best?'
'Yes, Rani.' Chera was looking nervous. 'I don't want to think of you in danger.'
'That is good of you,' Dhraji said. 'Is your brother not also a ship's captain?'
'Yes.' Chera's finger shook as he pointed to a tall, clean-shaven man
