Bradan nodded. 'We have men in Alba who live solitary lives on remote islands.'
'You understand the concept, then.' Chaturi said. 'Good. We have nine Siddhars who have reached the required highest level. These Siddhars control time and space by using yoga and meditation.'
'That's impressive.' Bradan held Melcorka as she slumped to the ground. He placed her in a more comfortable position. 'Please continue.'
'Siddhars are a bit like your Christian saints, but with the addition of being alchemists and doctors.' Chaturi smiled. 'Does that make sense to you?'
'It does,' Bradan said.
'Good. When all nine Siddhars are together in their mystic mountain…'
Bradan held up a hand. 'I'm lost now,' he said. 'Where is this mystic mountain, please?'
'It is called Sathuragiri, and it's in the Ghats,' Chaturi said. 'You know the Ghats?'
'I've seen them in the distance,' Bradan said. 'They run parallel to the western coast of Bharata Khanda, some miles inland.'
'That's right,' Chaturi approved. 'When all nine Siddhars are together on Sathuragiri, the world has balance. Good and evil counterbalance each other, men and women live their lives, and things are as they should be.'
Bradan glanced at Melcorka; he was not sure if she was listening. 'I see. Am I right in understanding that the world is not balanced at present?'
Chaturi indicated Melcorka. 'If the world were in balance, the curse would have had little or no effect on your friend there. The power of Melcorka's sword would have protected her.'
Bradan nodded. 'So why is the world not in balance?'
'The nine Siddhars are not on Sathuragiri.' Chaturi said. 'There are only seven on the mystic mountain. Until all nine are there, the power of evil will gradually take control, rakshasas will enter our world and eventually, we will live solely in evil and violence when people will either suffer or enjoy the suffering of others.'
Bradan stiffened. 'I have heard Kosala mentioning the rakshasas.'
'Kosala is a pragmatic warrior, not a man of deep thought, yet he understands the principle of good and evil. He recognises a demon for what it is.'
Bradan felt a cold shiver run from the base of his spine to the nape of his neck. 'These rakshasas, are they ugly creatures with many arms and a beak of a mouth?'
'That is one shape they can take.' Chaturi was not smiling. 'You already know the answer. I have been inside your head, remember?'
'I remember,' Bradan said.
'You saw it attack the Chola ship.' Chaturi spoke quietly. 'Did the Thiruzha remark on it?'
'No.' Bradan shook his head. 'They were too scared even to mention it. The sight of the monster… the demon… must have been too much for them.'
'They were too scared,' Chaturi agreed, 'and they were right to be afraid, for the demon lived among them. You knew it as Dhraji. That thing is a rakshasa, one of the more malignant demons.' She touched his arm. 'You already knew this.'
Bradan closed his eyes. 'Yes, I lived with a rakshasa.'
Chaturi nodded slowly. 'You lived with and loved with a rakshasa in human form and your friend there, Melcorka the Swordswoman, fought it when it took its demonic form.'
Bradan took a deep breath. 'How can we get the nine Siddhars back onto Sathuragiri?'
'Seven are already there,' Chaturi reminded him. 'Two are not. We know where the eighth is, but nobody can reach him, and the ninth is missing.'
'Where is the eighth? Nobody can reach him? By the love of God, I will reach him for Melcorka's sake.'
'The rakshasa you knew as Dhraji captured one of the Siddhars. His name is Machaendranathar,' Chaturi said. 'Dhraji suspended him in an iron cage from her border fortress of Rajgana.'
Rajgana! The armies of Chola and Thiruzha are marching to Rajgana. If we are to free this Machaendranathar, we will have to get there before the fighting starts.
'Can't we save him?'
'We hope to,' Chaturi said. 'My Singhalese people, the people who presently live in this village, are not warriors, although they carry swords and spears. Only Kosala is a genuine fighting man. The others are fishermen and divers. Your rakshasa, Dhraji, enslaved us to dive for her pearls.'
'Dhraji loves her pearls,' Bradan agreed.
'Some of the rakshasas do.' Chaturi frowned. 'They are a vain breed. My pearl-divers cannot fight the Thiruzha army. We need soldiers for that – warriors to face warriors.'
'You might have some soon,' Bradan said. 'Dhraji and Bhim spoke of a two-pronged Chola attack on Thiruzha. The Chola navy was defeated, but their army will be attacking Rajgana within the next few days. If they are successful, we can free this Machaendranathar fellow.'
'Rajgana is impregnable,' Chaturi said.
'Nowhere is impregnable,' Bradan said. 'Let's go to Rajgana and see if we can help. Your divers may not be the fiercest warriors in the world, but they seem a handy enough bunch to me, while Kosala would fit into anybody's army.'
Chaturi shook her head. 'If only it were that easy. Have you ever been to the Western Ghats? Have you seen the Rajgana frontier fortress?'
'I have seen fortresses before,' Bradan said. 'They can be assaulted, they can be undermined, or they can be stormed or starved into submission.'
'I admire your optimism.' Chaturi gave a sad smile. 'I hope you feel the same after you have seen Rajgana.'
Rajgana. For some reason, the name chilled Bradan, as if somebody had walked across his grave. 'I will carry Melcorka with us.' He lifted his chin, expecting Chaturi to object. 'I won't leave her alone.'
Instead, Chaturi smiled. 'We'll help.'
'Thank you,' Bradan said. 'Now, I have one more question. I have only seen Dhraji nervous on one occasion, and that was when she heard that a cavalry patrol was nearing the Rajgana Pass. I have been told that she is scared of one man.'
'That is so,' Chaturi said. 'Rakshasas should live forever, yet there
