Chapter EighteenWith further to travel, Rajendra led out his army a full six days in advance of the fleet. Melcorka watched them march past the walls of Thanjavur: the superb cavalry with swords, lances and prancing horses; the elephantry tramping heavily as the mahouts perched behind the huge creatures' ears and the archers and spearmen crammed in the howdahs, waving to the assembled crowds; and company after company of infantry with spears and swords or bows.
The column seemed to go on forever, thousands of soldiers marching to death or glory with the sun glinting on steel, while mothers and sweethearts watched with a mixture of pride and fear and worry.
'It was ever thus,' Bradan said. 'Men marching to war and women wishing that wars were a thing of the past.'
'Some women march to wa
