Vandiyathevan entered the royal audience hall even before the poets had arrived. He guessed that the majestic figure seated on the elevated throne must be none other than the Younger Pazhuvetarayar himself. Around him stood many, arms folded and mouths covered in respectful silence. One man stood with a pile of palm-leaf letters received that day. The accountant waited to present his accounts. The commanders of the guards stood expectantly, awaiting the daily orders of the Younger Pazhuvetarayar. Servants waited to carry out their assigned tasks. Behind the throne, a few attendants waved white fans. Another stood ready with a betel box in hand.

Even Vandiyathevan, who was second to none in boldness and pride, approached the Younger Pazhuvetarayar with a touch of restraint and humility. Compared to his elder brother, the younger lord appeared even more imposing in valor and majesty. As soon as he saw our hero, his stern face brightened with a welcoming smile.

“Who are you, young man? Where do you come from?” he asked.

Whenever he saw brave young men, the Younger Pazhuvetarayar’s stern visage would blossom. He had a great interest in recruiting valiant youths from all over the land into his guard.

“Commander! I have come from Kanchipuram! The prince sent me with a letter!” Vandiyathevan replied in a respectful tone.

At the mention of Kanchipuram, the Younger Pazhuvetarayar’s face hardened. “What? What did you say?” he asked again.

“I have come from Kanchipuram with a letter from the prince!”

“Where is it? Give it here!” Though he asked indifferently, there was a note of agitation in his voice.

With humility, Vallavarayan took out the scroll. “Commander! The letter is for the Emperor!” he said.

Ignoring this, the Younger Pazhuvetarayar took the letter eagerly and examined it. He handed it to the man standing beside him and told him to read it aloud. After listening, he muttered to himself, “There is nothing new in this!” “Commander! The palm-leaf letter I brought…” began Vandiyathevan.

“What about the letter? I will hand it over to the Emperor myself!”

“No; I was instructed to deliver it directly into the Emperor’s own hands…”

“Oh! So you do not trust me? Did Prince Aditya give you such strict orders?”

As he spoke, a mocking smile flickered across the face of the Tanjavur Fort Commander.

“The Prince did not say so; it was his elder brother who commanded me thus!”

“What? What? Where did you see the elder prince?”

“I spent a night at Kadambur, at the house of Sambuvarayar, on my way here. It was there that I met him. He gave me this ring as well…”

“Aha! Why did you not mention this earlier? You stayed at Kadambur for the night? Who else was there?”

“Many dignitaries had come from Mazhanadu, Nadunadu, and Thirumunaippadi regions…”

“Wait, wait! I will ask you all about that later. First, go and hand this letter to the Emperor yourself! Afterward, the Tamil poets will arrive and start their endless chatter… Take