'Is that you, Melcorka?' Kosala leaned over the side of a small boat. 'You can't swim about all day.' He extended a hand. 'In you come.'
Gasping, Melcorka allowed Kosala to help her into the boat. 'The rakshasa grabbed Bradan.' She looked up. Banduka and Chaturi were also in the boat, shaking their heads in sympathy.
'May Shiva help him,' Chaturi said quietly. 'Don't give up hope, Melcorka. The rakshasa might not kill him. Bradan survived Dhraji's captivity before. He can do the same again.'
'I hope so,' Melcorka said. 'I must save him.'
'It might be too late,' Kosala said. 'Don't expect too much, Melcorka.'
'I must save him,' Melcorka repeated. 'Take me to the fleet.'
'We'll come, too.' Kosala touched his sword. 'I want to fight the Thiruzha.'
The demon's laughter rebounded within Melcorka's head, cruel in its mockery.
* * *
Rajaraja's admirals and marine commanders sat around a low table in his state cabin, with large moths fluttering around the lanterns. A sentry propped the door open to allow free passage to a cooling breeze.
'We all saw how strong the defences of Kalipuram Island are. If we pass in daylight, we'll lose ships and men from their catapults and archers, while that chain boom virtually closes one of the two channels. If we go in at night, we will not see the rocks and other hazards, and the Kalipuram archers and catapults will know exactly where we are.'
The assembled men nodded agreement.
'Are there any suggestions?'
Kulothunga stamped both feet on the deck. 'Use a third of the fleet to keep the fort busy while the rest push through.'
'That might be the best way,' Rajaraja said. 'However, I don't like the idea of splitting our fleet to such an extent, or of sacrificing men in what is little more than a diversion.'
Melcorka sat in a corner, sharpening Defender. 'Take the island first,' she said softly. 'Send the marines to assault the place at night and neutralise the defences.' She ran her whetstone up the blade of her sword, the sound strangely sinister in the crowded cabin. 'Kill them. Kill them all.'
'We don't know the make-up of the defences,' a marine commander pointed out. 'The last time we tried to attack Kalipuram, the defenders beat us back. We lost two hundred men. I'm not sending my men to certain death.'
Kosala had slipped in beside Melcorka. 'I know some of the defences.'
'Who are you?' Rajaraja asked.
'Kosala of Ceylon. I was a slave on Kalipuram.'
The marine commanders grunted. 'A Singhalese pearl diver. What would he know of military matters?'
'Kosala is a warrior,' Melcorka said. 'He helped us escape from the Thiruzha.'
Smoothing his fingers over his moustache, Kulothunga eyed Kosala up and down. 'Do the Singhalese have any warriors?'
'He is as good a warrior as any I have ever met.' Melcorka was no longer inclined to humour Kulothunga's ego.
'Let him speak,' Rajaraja said.
When Kosala approached the table, Melcorka was surprised that he did not appear nervous when talking to such a high-profile group.
'I helped build some of the defences.' Kosala gave a wry smile. 'Not by choice.'
'Tell us,' Rajaraja ordered.
Kosala salaamed in Rajaraja's direction. 'There are two concentric walls with archers and spearmen on the front row and catapults and a huge crossbow further back. They also have facilities to launch fire-burning missiles.'
The marine commanders paid close attention as Kosala drew a quick sketch of the walls and the barracks inside the fort.
'Are there any weak spots?' the one-eyed Admiral asked.
'No,' Kosala said. 'The defenders can cover every approach to the walls. Every member of the garrison is covered by at least two others.'
'Is there anywhere in the fort that is not defended?' Melcorka asked. 'A water culvert, perhaps, or even a latrine?'
Kosala shook his head. 'Not that I know of. The walls rise sheer from the cliff. Nobody can climb them.'
Melcorka looked up sharply, tested the blade of Defender and slid it into its scabbard.
'How does the garrison enter the fort?' the one-eyed Admiral asked.
'There is only one gate,' Kosala said. 'The Seagate, at the lee side of the island, the side closest to the land and that is only opened when a Thiruzha vessel approaches.'
'What is the gate made of? How is it opened?' Melcorka asked, as the germ of an idea entered her mind. 'How do the ships enter?'
'The gate is of long iron strips, riveted together,' Kosala said, 'similar to the gate at Rajgana but many times larger. There is a permanent watch from a guardhouse immediately beside the gate.'
'How is the gate opened?' Melcorka repeated.
'There must be a mechanism within the guardhouse.' Kosala said. 'I do not know how to operate it.'
'A pity, but that cannot be helped,' Melcorka said. 'Next, how do the boats enter?'
Rajaraja held up a hand as one of the admirals tried to interrupt. 'Let him talk,' Rajaraja ordered.
Kosala continued. 'There is a gap in the cliff that leads to a small harbour within the fort. The slaves are constantly enlarging and improving the anchorage.'
'How many men are in the guardhouse?' Melcorka shot out her questions.
Kosala screwed up his face. 'I was never in there. Maybe a dozen men.'
'Warriors? Or just garrison troops?' Melcorka's idea grew by the minute.
'I don't know,' Kosala said, honestly.
Melcorka nodded and addressed the gathering. 'Do you gentlemen have any plan to pass this island?'
Rajaraja nodded. 'I can think of only one answer. We launch a full frontal assault just before dawn on the eastern side, so the rising sun is in the defenders' eyes. As the sun rises, it will give us light to see by. We'll need scaling ladders, but our carpenters can knock them up in half an hour.'
'If I can get the Seagate open, can you bring in a couple of loolas in the dark?' Melcorka broke in.
'Your Singhalese friend told us that the gate's well guarded,' Kulothunga said.
'If I can get it open,' Melcorka repeated, too focused on her plan to listen to any negatives, 'could you get a couple of loolas in?'
Rajaraja lifted a hand to stop the
