Bhim had anticipated the Chola ships trying to avoid Kalipuram and had stationed a company of mixed archers and spearmen among the rocks. They opened up on the vulnerable burning ship, so in minutes, it was a charnel house of screaming men. At the blare of a horn, Thiruzha warriors emerged from their positions, thrusting their long spears into the survivors who staggered ashore, pleading for mercy that the Thiruzhas would never grant.
Another Chola ship was on fire now, with men leaping into the water rather than face the flames. As the island's defenders used them as targets, one of the Chola vessels eased out of line to pick up survivors.
'The day goes well,' Dhraji was still smiling, 'and the Cholas have not met our main defences yet.'
As Dhraji spoke, Kalipuram's catapults opened up, launching their rocks against the Chola fleet. The first salvo failed to hit anything, but the immense splashes must have caused consternation among the battered seamen. The second salvo was more effective, crashing onto one of the Chola ships. Bradan saw the rock hurtle down amidships, heard the resulting chorus of screams and yells and saw splinters of wood rise high in the air. The ship immediately began to sink, with the Kalipuram archers ignoring it to concentrate on the more dangerous vessels.
'This is a slaughter,' Dhraji said. 'I thought the Cholans were skilled warriors. They have no imagination at all.'
As if they had heard her speak, the Cholans changed tactics. Four of their ships landed on Kalipuram Island and the crews poured out with spears and swords, to try an immediate assault on the fort.
The defenders responded at once, sending a third of their archers to the threatened wall. That movement weakened the defences of the other walls, so the remainder of the Chola fleet was under less threat as it tried to squeeze past the island.
'Now!' The speaking-trumpet altered Bhim's voice to a metallic rasp.
There was a scurry of activity on the walls of the fort and Bradan saw the water between the first and second half of the Chola fleet rise. 'That's the boom,' he said, as the huge chain rose from the bed of the sea to block the passage of the Chola ships.
'Their fleet is split,' Dhraji said. 'The ships behind the boom can either run or remain, for the Kalipuram garrison to destroy at will.'
The remainder of the Chola fleet formed up, out of arrow range, in front of Kollchi. They were battered and bloodied, but they had passed the outer defences and now hoisted giant flags in defiance. The red tiger of Chola sprung from a yellow background.
'Now watch,' Dhraji said quietly, licking her lips.
The single word, 'Fire!' sounded as Bhim gave the order and a score of catapults loosed from the walls of Kollchi. Heavy rocks soared high in the air, hovered for a few seconds and then plunged down with ever-increasing speed. The water splashes were huge, higher than the Chola masts and before the water fountains subsided, the next volley of rocks was on its way.
'Now the Chola admiral has a difficult choice,' Dhraji said. 'He can try to scale the walls of Kollchi, try to capture Kalipuram to rescue his doomed ships, remain anchored and lose his ships, or run with his tail between his legs.' Her smile broadened. 'He had better choose quickly. Things are about to get worse for him.'
The catapults fired again, with large bundles of oil-fuelled flaming rags rising up and falling among the Chola ships. Only one landed on target, and the Chola seamen ran to douse the flames as a new sound echoed around the harbour.
It was like nothing Bradan had heard before; an echoing crash, as if a hundred archers had fired at once, followed by a heavy scream as a massive bolt shot from the city walls. Bradan watched its progress as it soared across the harbour, to pass between two of the anchored ships and smash against the rocks near the harbour entrance.
'Missed,' Dhraji said. 'That should cost somebody his skin.'
'What was that?' Bradan asked.
'That was our new weapon.' Dhraji said. 'It is a bow that fires an arrow as long as two men and as broad as a man's thigh. Bhim has three more of these weapons under construction.'
Bradan could sense the thrill of horror that passed through the Chola fleet. Rather than the aggressors, they were floating targets for the fire-catapults and the giant arrows of the Thiruzha defenders.
'Things are going well,' Dhraji said. 'I wonder what the admiral of the Chola fleet plans to do now?'
'He'll have to try and take the city,' Bradan said. 'If he sits there, your defences will shoot his ships to pieces.'
'Good, good.' Dhraji clapped her hands together. 'Oh, I do hope so. I don't want him to run away until we have given him a proper drubbing. I want to weaken Chola so much that they never try again and we can rule the seas from here to the Andaman Islands and over to Java.'
Bradan had never heard of these places. 'You will have to take me there sometime.'
Dhraji laughed, pressing against him. 'Are you not tired of me yet, Bradan, the slave?'
'I will never tire of you, my Queen.' Bradan thought of Melcorka suffering in her dungeon and swallowed his pride. He allowed his left hand to touch Dhraji's arm. 'You are unlike any woman I have ever met before.'
Dhraji laughed again. 'Oh, my sycophantic little foreign slave! When I conquer the Cholas, I will undoubtedly take a fleet to your Alba and find out if all the men of Alba are like you. How would that be, Bradan? You can be my guide.'
Bradan thought of the mists and coolness of Alba again… the feel of winter sleet against his skin, the sweet scent of a peat-fire flame, the sound of harpers drifting across
