Melcorka Of Alba

by Malcolm Archibald

  'Never,' Bradan said. 'Does it bite?' The huge beast was many times larger and heavier than a horse and had huge, flapping ears and great curving tusks, together with a long trunk that swayed in front of it. A silk-covered box sat on its back, as colourful as anything in the city of Kollchi, with gold tassels bouncing around the back of the elephant.

  'That one does not,' Dhraji said. 'We use elephants for warfare as well and they very effective. That one is for our personal use.' She smiled, evidently amused at Bradan's ignorance. 'Come with me, slave Bradan.'

  Bradan kept back as the elephant slowly got down to its knees.

  'Come on, Bradan. This compartment is called a howdah.' Dhraji dragged him to the elephant and into the silk-lined howdah on its back. There were cushioned seats inside, with a couple of bows, two quivers of arrows and a long whip. Sitting facing forward, Dhraji motioned that Bradan should sit opposite her. 'You'll enjoy the ride.' Her mouth opened slightly, with her tongue flicking out. 'I know that you enjoy riding and other experiences.'

  'Yes, my Lady.' Bradan sat down. Behind him, a near-naked man straddled the elephant's neck, driving the elephant with a spiked pole.

  'That man is a mahout,' Dhraji explained. 'If he guides the elephant well, he is rewarded. If he does not…' She shrugged. 'Their deaths can be entertaining.'

  'I see, your Majesty.' Sometimes, Bradan found it hard to imagine that this charming, sensual woman was probably a cold-blooded killer. Dressed in wide blue silk trousers and a top of blue decorated with rows of small pearls, Dhraji looked as beautiful as Bradan had ever seen her. Only the shadow of cruelty in her eyes and the sensuous curl to her lips reminded him of the reality beneath.

  Two more elephants marched with them toward the eastern gate. Bhim rode on the beast immediately behind them, with Melcorka sharing his howdah, smiling at the crowds as if they had gathered specifically to see her pass. Bhim was dressed in magnificent robes, his portly form dignified as he sat straight-backed, raising his arm to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. Wearing transparent clothes that hid nothing, Melcorka half stood, to the delight of the crowd.

  Thank God that you're still alive, Mel. Bradan wished desperately to reach over and touch Melcorka, but he fought the temptation, aware that Dhraji was watching and probably testing him.

  'You're looking even more attractive than usual today, my Lady.' Bradan hid his emotional agony behind flattery.

  'Do you find me more alluring than that stringy woman?' Dhraji nodded to Melcorka.

  'I see her there.' Bradan glanced at Melcorka and returned his attention to Dhraji. 'I'm glad she is still alive.' He paused for effect. 'But I'm happy to be sharing your howdah and not hers.'

  Dhraji gave a light laugh and snapped an order to the lithe mahout. Their elephant halted at once. Melcorka barely looked at Bradan as her elephant lumbered past and then Dhraji ordered the mahout to follow it out of the great, pointed gate.

  'See what we have prepared for Bose Raja.' Dhraji pointed with an elegant hand.

  Bradan could hardly have missed the tremendous triumphal arch that stood a hundred paces outside the eastern gate. Twice as tall as an elephant, the arch was made of intricately carved stone, so that the elephant-headed god Ganesha and the monkey-headed god Hanuman combined in a multi-armed goddess that jolted Bradan with unpleasant comparisons with sea monsters.

  'That's Kali.' Dhraji responded to Bradan's unspoken question. 'She is one of our goddesses. Do you like your archway?'

  'It's very impressive.' Bradan looked up as a fast column of dust indicated that a horseman was approaching at a gallop. 'Somebody's coming.'

  It was significant that the rider approached Dhraji rather than Bhim. Dhraji nodded toward her husband and the horseman reined up beside Bhim's elephant. 'Bose Raja is coming!' he shouted.

  'That's not hard to see.' Bradan pointed to the haze of dust that nearly blocked their view of the distant Ghat Mountains. The air was sultry here, with insects clouding around and the smell of vegetation mingling with the various stenches from the city.

  The music drifted across a few minutes later as the dust cloud came steadily closer, with the howdahs of a score of elephants looming above the dust like ships floating on a dun-coloured sea. Outriders charged forward, to wheel in front of the triumphal arch, raise their swords, yell in salute and gallop past in a flurry of flapping cloaks, glittering steel and thundering hooves.

  'Here they come!' Dhraji sounded quite excited as she gripped Bradan's arm and leaned forward. 'Watch closely now, Bradan. You are about to see history being made.'

  As they neared the arch, horsemen broke from the approaching army and formed two lines on the outside, a standing guard of honour for Bose Raja on his elephant. On a word from the cavalry captain, each horseman drew his sword and raised it high, creating a corridor of glittering steel. The raja raised his flag, the same snarling yellow beast on a blue background that had graced his fleet. The silk flowed and fluttered as the elephant walked sedately forward. With the cover of the howdah removed, Bose Raja stood up so that his people could see him. Tall and broad, with a luxurious, down-curving moustache decorating the stern face of a warrior, Bose Raja raised both hands in the air as he approached the great arch.

  'Bose Raja is returning from an expedition to the Chola borderlands,' Dhraji explained. 'He has a hundred camel-loads of treasure to add to our vaults, and three hundred more slaves for labouring and domestic duties.'

  'No wonder the crowd is happy,' Bradan said.

  The crowd was cheering, the warriors raising swords, shields and spears in salute as the raja's mahout guided his elephant under the magnificent stone arch. For a moment, the shadow of the arch concealed Bose Raja.

  'Now,' Dhraji said softly and lifted her left hand. Bradan heard the rumble before he saw the movement, and then the entire left side of the arch collapsed. Scores of tons of stone fell, knocking the elephant down, instantly killing the mahout and tossing Bose Raja onto the ground. The raja struggled to his feet, shouting something and staring at Bhim and Dhraji. Above him, the remaining side of the arch tottered but held.

  'Now,' Dhraji repeated softly and lifted her right hand. The remainder of the arch shook, shuddered and crumbled. A block of carved stone fell directly on top of Bose Raja, crushing him, so only his head protruded. A smear of blood spread from underneath the stone.

  Bradan saw a quick smile cross Dhraji's face before she masked her emotions with a look of horror.

  A shuddering gasp arose from the crowd as men and women clustered around to try and save the raja. Bradan made to jump from the howdah, only for Dhraji to grip his arm. 'Stay there, Slave Bradan,' she said quietly. 'This situation does not concern you.'

  'He might still be alive,' Bradan said, more in hope than expectation.

  'He is dead.' Dhraji regained her smile. 'He is dead and now Bhim and I are Raja and Rani in truth.' She patted Bradan's thigh. 'I told you that you would witness history today, Bradan.'

  'You mean…?' Bradan gestured to the mass of masonry that lay in a tumbled heap on top of the late Raja. 'You knew this was going to happen?' He remembered Dhraji's small gestures before the masonry collapsed.

  Dhraji intended this; I am not sure how she did it. That woman is not merely evil, she has some sort of power. She is even more dangerous than I had thought.

  'Of course.' Dhraji looked surprised that Bradan should have to ask. 'I wanted to be Rani, and Bose Raja was in my way. What better time to get rid of him than when he is at the height of his prestige, all proud and gallant and brave – and with his defences down!' She laughed again. 'And with such a public death, nobody can blame Bhim for Bose's death. It was obviously a tragic accident. Now I will execute a few builders for their shoddy workmanship, purge the palace of any of Bose's most loyal supporters and rule through Bhim.'

  'I see.' Bradan hid his disgust. 'I underestimated you, my Rani. You are indeed the cleverest of queens.' He bowed and salaamed. 'It is a privilege to serve and learn from you.' />
  Dhraji smiled. 'Now we must all appear sorrowful and mourn the death of our great leader, who was so foolish as to trust his heir apparent.' She leaned toward Bradan and rubbed her hand up his thigh. 'You will need your stamina tonight, Bradan.'

  'I look forward to it, My Lady.' Bradan was very aware of Melcorka riding close by on Bhim's elephant as it walked past. With Dhraji holding his gaze, he could not look round.

  * * *

  Bhim declared ten days of national mourning to honour the death of his father. During that time, the people of Thiruzha had to wear only sombre clothes and no jewellery or finery. They had to drink only water and eat the simplest of fare, walk with their heads bowed and keep their children under the strictest control.

  'We'll place Bose Raja's body on a raised platform in the centre of the square,' Dhraji said, as she inspected the crushed remains of her father-in-law. 'I rather like him like that.' She smiled at Bradan. 'He's even easier to control now.'

  'Did you control him, my Lady?'

  'He did as I wished,' Dhraji said. She snapped her fingers to the captain of the palace guard. 'Have Bose Raja's body put on public display in the square,' she ordered. 'I want every man, woman and child to pass him and leave a token of their respect.'

  'It shall be as you wish, Rani.' The captain salaamed.

  'Those that do not leave a token shall be enslaved,' Dhraji said.

  'It shall be as you wish, Rani.' the guard salaamed again.

  'Those who do not attend shall be put to death.'

  'It shall be as you wish, Rani.'

  'Come with me, Bradan.' Although Dhraji spoke with a gentle smile, there was no doubting her authority. As usual, the leopard followed. 'You shall see what happens to men whose shoddy workmanship killed a king.' When she laughed lightly, the leopard lifted its head and licked her hand.

  The crowds gathered in the great square again, some laughing, some sober-faced and most in a holiday mood. Bradan sat opposite Dhraji in the howdah, with the sun pouring its heat down and the leopard's head resting on Dhraji's feet. Dhraji and Bhim had provided entertainment before the main event, with a hundred sinuous dancers writhing through the approving crowd. A line of guards kept the more enthusiastic men back with ungentle blows from the butts of spears and the flats of swords.

  'Do you like my dancers?' Dhraji asked.

  'They are excellent.' Bradan was not sure what answer Dhraji expected. The dancers were the best he had ever seen, shapely, skilled and with every movement calculated to arouse the senses of the audience.

  'Do they stimulate you?' Dhraji raised her eyebrows in that suggestive look that Bradan had come to recognise.

  'When I have you beside me, I need no other stimulation,' Bradan said.

  'Remind me later,' Dhraji said, 'and I will dance for you.' She jiggled her breasts, smiled and placed one finger to her lips. 'Now, watch the justice of the Raja and Rani.'

  The crowd hooted and cheered as ten scared men were led into the square, which now looked even larger with the slave platform removed. Weighed down with chains, the men stood still, looking around at the mob, while men and women at the windows waved and shouted to each other. Some women carried children, which they balanced on the sills of the windows so they could obtain a better view of the proceedings. Peddlers weaved through the crowds, selling carved wooden figures of elephants.

  'Who are these men in chains?' Bradan already guessed the answer.

  'These are the master builders,' Dhraji said. 'These are the men who created the triumphal arch that so tragically collapsed and killed the last raja. It is fitting that they should be punished.'

  Knowing he could not help the condemned men, Bradan nodded. 'I see.'

  'I know that you agree with me,' Dhraji said. 'Justice must be seen to be done. The death of a raja must be marked.'

  'As your majesty pleases.' Bradan salaamed.

  'They are slaves, of course,' Dhraji said. 'They were captured during one of the late raja's raids on the Chola Empire, so no doubt they deliberately built a flawed structure to avenge themselves on their captor.'

  'That must be what happened.' Bradan wondered if Dhraji was warning him of the possible price of treason.

  The ten builders huddled together in the centre of the square, as if the proximity of other condemned men gave them security. Even from his elevated position in the howdah, Bradan could smell their fear. Their eyes were wide and one was openly weeping, while another fell to his knees, hands raised in supplication, to the amusement of the crowd.

  'Wait!' Dhraji rose in the howdah and shouted in a high, clear voice. 'Release these men from their chains.' She sat down again. 'One must appear merciful, Bradan. It also gives the prisoners false hope and lengthens the time of the execution.'

  'How are they to be killed?' Bradan looked in vain for a gallows or a headsman with an axe.

  'Watch and learn. You may enjoy it as much as I do.' Dhraji was smiling as Bhim shouted an order and an elephant ambled into the square.

  At the sight of the great grey beast, the condemned men set up a wail of terror and tried to run into the crowd, only for the guards to push and prod them back. The air of anticipation increased. Dhraji leaned back in her chair with a small smile in her face, one hand fondling the ear of the leopard. Bradan studied the crowd, who watched with slack jaws and mounting excitement as the elephant thudded into the square, with the mahout guiding it with a pointed, iron-shod stick.

  'I could have put in more elephants,' Dhraji's voice was taut, 'but using only one makes the execution last longer. Now, watch. Watch and learn.' She leaned forward, smiling as the condemned prisoners tried to run away and the mahout guided the elephant toward them. The mahout selected his first victim, who gave a high-pitched scream and tried again to escape into the crowd. Grinning guards caught him and threw him back. The crowd roared and one woman at a window held her child close, pointing to the execution and whispering in his ear.

  Bradan saw Dhraji's smile broaden as the victim stumbled and fell face-down on the ground. The mahout stopped the elephant in front of the unfortunate builder and had it raise its right foot. The man's constant screaming was the only sound in the square except for the panting breath of the audience. Dhraji leaned forward, one hand reaching for Bradan.

  'Good, good,' she said, as the elephant slowly lowered its foot. The man crawled away, so the elephant missed his head and instead crushed his left leg. The victim twisted and screamed, long and shrill.

  Dhraji's eyes were bright. She leaned forward, her tongue licking her lips and her hand busy on the leopard's ear. Bradan knew that he had been forgotten; the Rani's entire attention was on the deliberate murder being enacted in front of her.

  The elephant lifted the builder with its trunk, swung him, a bleeding, squealing mess, around its head and threw him into the crowd. Drops of blood sprayed the audience, with one landing on Dhraji's arm. She licked it off, still smiling and, for the first time, looked at Bradan. Her eyes glowed with pleasure, and a smear of the victim's blood was on her lips. Her tongue darted out, removed the blood and explored her lips for more.

  With the first victim a bloody smear on the ground, the other condemned men ran in panic as the mahout guided the elephant toward them, choosing his next target.

  Bradan looked away. He had seen too much bloodshed and suffering in his life to find any interest in more. Instead, he watched the crowd as they roared and cheered and laughed at the antics of the condemned men, and he watched Dhraji as she leaned forward with intense eyes and darting tongue. He had never despised her more, yet knew that her lust would be at its height later. For the first time, he contemplated escaping on his own.

  No. I will not leave Melcorka in the hands of this woman… if she is a woman and not some terrible creature from another world.

  By the time all ten builders were dead, the square was a mass of blood and brains, crushed bones and slithering entrails. The crowd was in a state of high excitement, with hysterical laughter and chee
ring, although Bradan was pleased to see that some were looking sick and a few had slid away from the horrific scenes.

  There is hope, he thought. Even though these people are inured to horror, a spark of decency remains. That can be built on.

  'Take us back to the palace.' Dhraji's voice was husky as she addressed the mahout. 'And quickly.'

  'Come, Bradan.' Dhraji took hold of his arm the second they left the howdah. 'I won't be dancing for you just yet. Executions always arouse me.'

  The leopard followed, padding in Dhraji's wake with its head held low and its eyes smouldering yellow.

  * * *

  They sat in the corner of Dhraji's chamber playing chess, as the setting sun coloured the sky a brilliant orange-red and silhouetted the serrated peaks of the Ghats. Small birds darted beyond the window and occasionally invaded the room.

  'Do you have this game in your Alba, Bradan?' Dhraji asked.

  'We do,' Bradan said. 'We have slightly different pieces there.' He lifted a small ivory chariot. 'In Alba, we have a rook rather than a chariot, and we have a bishop where you have an elephant.'

  Dhraji smiled. 'This game was invented in Northern Bharata Khanda.' She lifted the king. 'Here, we call this piece the raja. Where you have the queen, we have the mantra, or minister, a politician. The queen, the mantra, is the most powerful piece while the king, the raja, is merely the symbol of authority.'

  'That seems to be the case here, too,' Bradan agreed.

  Dhraji laughed openly. 'It may be the case in your Alba as well. What you call chess, we call chaturanga, which means four divisions – cavalry, elephantry, infantry and chariotry.'

  'I see.' Bradan surveyed the board.

  'I rather like you.' Dhraji surveyed him once more. 'You have intelligence and stamina.'

  'It's all that walking and rowing.' Bradan moved an elephant on the board. It would take him a while to get used to the different pieces.

  Dhraji continued her lecture. 'Chess spread to Persia and when the armies of Islam invaded Persia, they adopted the game and carried it with them.' She moved her mantra. 'When I take over the Chola Empire, I may march my army north and destroy the Islamics.'