'Anybody care to help us?' Melcorka ensured she remained calm. 'The sooner the Seagate is open, the sooner the Chola fleet can come in.'
Staring at their fallen companion, a group of slaves shuffled toward Melcorka.
'Come on then.' Melcorka grabbed the nearest. 'Take hold here and push that lever as hard as you can.'
The man stared at her through vacant, slave-dull eyes.
'Just do as I say,' Melcorka demonstrated. 'We're trying to open the Seagate. Next, please!' She pushed a dozen into place, closed their hands around the levers and shouted: 'Now, on my word, push! Put your weight into it!'
'I'll watch for any stray Thiruzha warriors.' Kosala positioned himself at the door, sword held across his chest.
'Push!' Melcorka ordered again, leading by example. 'Come on, lads and lassies. If we don't open the gate, Rajaraja can't get in and we'll all be slaves forever! Push!'
With the extra weight the slaves provided, the drum creaked an inch and a single link of the chain clicked into place.
'Push!' Melcorka ordered. 'Come on, people!' She lifted herself off the ground, pushing as hard as she could. The chain creaked another link, and then another, until the slaves got the hang of the procedure, worked together and the drum began to roll faster.
'That's it!' Melcorka said. 'We're getting there!'
At that point, the Thiruzhas launched their counter attack.
Chapter Twenty
Melcorka heard the Thiruzha war cry, and the resonant crash of feet, followed by the crisp yell of disciplined orders. Kosala stepped aside as a flight of arrows hissed past him. Some found targets in the slaves that crowded the guardroom. Men screamed in pain or shouted in shock or sheer frustration, and a few hefted their makeshift weapons and rushed past Kosala toward the Thiruzhas.
'Get the Seagate open!' Melcorka pulled a slave back. 'Keep turning the crank! Don't stop. Kosala and I will deal with the Thiruzhas.'
Unsheathing Defender, Melcorka stepped toward the doorway. Kosala was already there, peering past the mob of slaves with his sword held across his chest.
'How many?' Melcorka asked.
'I can't tell.' Kosala flicked an arrow from the air with his sword. 'I can hear more coming up the stairs.'
'Can you hold the door?' Melcorka glanced over her shoulder to where the slaves had stopped hauling on the levers. 'If you keep the guardroom secure, I'll get the Seagate open.'
'I'll hold the door.' Kosala sounded as calm as if he was sitting inside his own house.
'Good man!' Melcorka held his gaze for a second. 'I'm glad you're here, Kosala.' She saw the pleasure her few words gave him, touched his shoulder and returned inside the guardroom. 'Come on, people! Let's get this gate open!'
The second she had left, the slaves had stopped working. Melcorka had to motivate them again, cajoling, encouraging, and leading by example. It was another few moments before the slaves were hauling again.
'Come on!' Melcorka yelled as the drum inched around, chain-link by chain-link. 'Come on!'
'Melcorka!' Kosala roared. 'Over here!'
Melcorka glanced over her shoulder. Kosala was struggling against a press of Thiruzha warriors, fighting desperately. 'I'm coming!'
She dashed across, in time to see Kosala dispose of a young warrior with a deft thrust to the throat. Five more Thiruzhas pressed forward, mouths open in loud yells. For a moment, Melcorka had to fight desperately, slashing, blocking and thrusting, and then there was silence save for the steady clanking of the chain, Kosala's harsh breathing and the moaning of the Thiruzha wounded.
'You are a great warrior, Kosala,' Melcorka said, once she had got her breath back.
'I just follow your example.' Kosala grinned across to her.
'Listen.' Melcorka stood erect. 'Something's happening down there.' She stepped forward.
'More Thiruzhas are coming up the stairs!' Kosala shouted, stepping to her side with his sword held low. 'You and me, Melcorka – it's you and me against all of Thiruzha!'
Melcorka nodded as she heard the thunder of feet on the stairs. 'It sounds as if there are hundreds of them this time.'
The Thiruzhas rampaged up the stairs in chain mail and iron helmets, with spears held horizontally and swords poised to kill. Most had a small, round shield on their left arm, and all looked hideously efficient. Leading them, shaded by the darkness, a tall man mounted the steps three at a time.
'The man in front looks like a giant,' Kosala said.
'Let me take him.' Melcorka tried to push in front, only for Kosala to block her.
'No, Melcorka.' He grinned at her. 'Don't you realise yet that I am trying to impress you?'
'You have no need to do that,' Melcorka said.
'I must. I need to win your favour.' Kosala stood in a half-crouch. 'Come on, you dogs of Thiruzha! Come on, you followers of a rakshasa! Kosala is here!'
Melcorka shook her head as the giant strode forward, laughing. 'Melcorka!' Kulothunga dropped the point of his sword. 'I thought there was still fighting up here?'
'No,' Melcorka said. 'Kosala and I have things well in hand.' She glanced at the Singhalese warrior, who grinned at the praise. 'I presume the Seagate is open and our ships are in?'
'You presume correctly,' Kulothunga said. 'I was first into the fort.'
'I would not have thought anything else.' Melcorka kept her voice solemn. 'How many Chola ships are in?'
'Five. Jasweer's Sharks and four more loolas, all packed with marines.' Kulothunga jerked a thumb to the men behind him. I'll lead them around the defences and get rid of the Thiruzhas.'
'They're not fighting hard, Kulothunga. The defence has been lacklustre at best. I wonder if Bhim is laying another of his traps?'
'Let him.' Kulothunga shrugged. 'I can defeat his army single-handed.'
'There are catapults on the far battlements,' Kosala broke in. 'They can still cause damage to the Chola fleet. Maybe it would be better to get them first.'
'No!' Jasweer pushed through the hard-faced marines. 'I believe there's a boom blocking the North Channel. Our priority must
