The atmosphere altered again as men either looked at each other, or glared at Bradan in indignation. Bradan waited for the murmurs of protest to die down.
'These men have served me in half a dozen campaigns,' Rajaraja said. 'They have proved their loyalty in blood.'
'The rakshasas can take the form of any living thing,' Bradan said. 'I worry that there could be one amongst us.'
'Here is a cure.' Kulothunga stalked in from his position at the door. 'I have some water from the Ganges. Let every man present drink from my flask. No rakshasa can drink water from the blessed Ganges.'
'Do as Kulothunga suggests,' Rajaraja ordered. 'I will drink first.' He watched as the flask was passed from hand to hand, with everyone present taking a swallow. Melcorka and Bradan were last.
'Good,' Rajaraja said. 'Well thought of, Kulothunga. You may continue, Bradan.'
'Very well, Your Majesty,' Bradan said. 'I was on board a Thiruzha boat in the latest battle.' Once again, he waited for the Chola rustle of unease to pass. 'The Thiruzha scouts enticed your loolas out of formation and the Thiruzha war-galleys ambushed them. Once your loolas were gone, your fleet was blind, and the Thiruzha ships stabbed and ran, inflicting casualties and weakening your ships both in numbers and morale.'
The Admirals were listening intently, leaning forward with their eyes fixed on Bradan.
'By the time the Chola fleet came to the harbour, it was rattled and uncertain, with many casualties. The Thiruzhas have a chain boom to guard the northern entrance to the harbour, and catapults and many archers on the island of Kalipuram.'
'We had a sufficiently large fleet to take the island and the town.' Rajaraja did not like to hear of the deficiencies of his armed forces. 'I heard that our admiral was killed early in the battle.'
Bradan nodded. 'I did not know that, Your Majesty. That would explain why the attack was disjointed. Your men fought bravely.'
'I would expect nothing else.'
Bradan continued, explaining about the Thiruzha catapults and the bolt-firing weapon, as well as the fire that had burned so many of the Chola ships.
'Bhim has Kollchi harbour well defended.' Rajaraja gave grudging respect to his enemy. 'We shall have to devise a way of neutralising his weapons.' He paused, drumming long fingers on the table. 'I also heard some garbled talk about a great sea monster that attacked our ships.' He looked directly at Bradan. 'Was that Dhraji?'
'That was Dhraji,' Bradan confirmed. 'It is one of her forms. Perhaps it is her true form, I am not sure.'
The assembly murmured in disquiet. 'How do we fight a rakshasa?' the one-eyed veteran asked. 'Mortal weapons cannot kill it.'
'You don't fight it,' Melcorka said. 'You let me fight it.' She expected the rising tide of disbelief. 'Before I tell you,' she said, 'please allow Bradan to explain about Rajgana Fort.'
This time, it was the generals who listened with more attention as Bradan spoke of the stone bridge across the narrowest part of the pass, the iron barrier, the catapults and the number of defenders.
Rajendra waited until Bradan had finished speaking. 'Does the garrison illuminate Rajgana at night?'
'There are lanterns on the walls,' Bradan tried to remember. 'The pass itself is not lit.'
Rajendra drummed his fingers on the table. 'And the door beside the metal gate; was it guarded?'
'I believe not, Your Highness. I was not aware it existed until the garrison marched out.'
Rajendra gave a slow smile. 'That is our way in then, at night and quietly. Rajgana is not impregnable.'
'Perhaps so, Rajendra,' Rajaraja said. 'Bhim has ensured that Thiruzha is well defended. We cannot allow him to remain as a threat on our western border. His ships harass our shipping and raid our coastal villages and his armies loot and rob our lands. He must hold hundreds of our people as slaves.'
'Thousands,' Bradan said. 'Those that survive.' He remembered the dungeons under Bhim's palace and the horror of the executions. 'Bhim and Dhraji rule by terror and Dhraji, at least, plans to overthrow Your Majesty and take over your empire.'
Rajaraja grunted. 'Does she indeed? Now, Melcorka, you mentioned that you could fight Dhraji. What makes you think you can face a rakshasa when my experienced generals and warriors cannot? I have men in my army with twice or thrice your experience of warfare.'
'There are reasons.' Melcorka was reluctant to mention the power of Defender. 'I will keep them to myself at present.'
'Why?' Rajaraja gave the direct question.
'It is against Melcorka's religion to answer that question.' Bradan gave an answer he knew the Cholas would understand.
'I see.' Rajaraja raised his hand in acceptance. 'I cannot say how successful you may be until the day I see you face a rakshasa.'
Melcorka remembered her previous failure to kill the multi-armed sea-monster and said nothing.
'When we attacked the Thiruzha pirates, I only sent one flotilla of ships and a couple of regiments, with a few auxiliaries.' Rajaraja said. 'I underestimated Bhim and Dhraji. I will not do that again. This time, we will muster five regiments with cavalry, elephantry, infantry and archers to attack by land and two hundred and fifty ships to attack by sea. We may not be able to kill the rakshasa, but we will destroy her minions.' When Rajaraja looked up, Melcorka could see the personality that had made the Chola Empire such a significant power.
Every bit as tall and broad as the Raja, Rajendra stepped forward. 'If I may, Father, I would wish to command one of the two forces.' He stood at his father's side, his eyes shining with the anticipation of a new campaign.
Rajaraja's smile was full of paternal pride. 'Choose which you will, Rajendra.'
'I would like the land force,' Rajendra said. 'I would wish to take Rajgana and show Bhim that a Chola army can destroy his pet fortress, despite all his tricks and ploys.'
'Then you shall command the army,' Rajaraja said. 'I will take
