After the poets had departed, the palace physician arrived, carrying the medicine prepared for the Emperor. The Queen, daughter of Malayaman, received it with her own sacred hand and gave it to her husband.

Until then, the Younger Pazhuvettarayar had been waiting patiently. Now, he seized Vandiyathevan by the hand and, not letting go, drew him close to the Emperor.

“My Lord! Is there any improvement from the new medicine?” he asked.

“The physician says there is; the Queen says so too. But, to be honest, I do not feel any confidence. To tell the truth, Commander! All this seems to be a futile effort. My fate is calling me. I feel as if Yama himself has gone to Pazhayarai in search of me. When he learns that I am not there, he will come here in pursuit!…”

“My Lord! You must not speak so despondently. You must not distress us all like this. Your noble ancestors—”

“Ah! You say my ancestors never feared Yama! If only I, like many of my forefathers, could die fighting at the frontlines of battle, I would not fear such a death; I would not lose heart. I would welcome it with joy. My great father, Rajaditya, gave up his life atop an elephant in the battlefield at Takkolam. He established the martial glory of the Chola clan forever on the field of Takkolam. He was praised as ‘the god who slept atop the elephant.’ What glory will I attain? I will be known only as ‘Sundara Cholan who slept on a sickbed’! Another of my great fathers, Kandaraditya Devar, was so devoted to Shiva that he had cast away all fear of death. He journeyed to the western coastal lands on pilgrimage and died there. He too was famed as ‘the god who ascended westward.’ I am neither a devotee like him, nor am I able to go on pilgrimage. How many more days will I lie here like this? I am a burden to all those around me!… Yet, something within me tells me that I will not remain long in this world…”

“Emperor! The palace physician assures you there is no danger. The astrologers too say there is no peril. But this young boy here was just now talking to you about some danger…” “Ah! Is this not the young man who has come from the city of Kanchi? Yes, he spoke of some danger; what was it you spoke of, my boy? Was it about my own situation?”

Vallavarayan’s mind worked at lightning speed. If he admitted that he had warned of ‘danger,’ suspicion would surely arise and he himself would be in peril. He must escape this predicament. Very well; let him try a clever ruse. With the aid of grammar, he could turn a long syllable into a short one!

“Your Majesty, the Emperor! Who am I to speak of danger? When our valiant commander, the young Pazhuvettarayar, the royal physician, and the queen herself—who is as steadfast as Savitri—are all present, what danger could possibly arise? I only pleaded for ‘refuge,’ for ‘refuge’ before you. I am but an unknown youth, now standing as a representative of the ancient Vanar clan. I have come to serve the great Chola Empire, hoping to bring joy to your noble son. I beg you to grant me, your humble servant, even a small portion of our ancestral kingdom. O King of Kings! Refuge! Refuge! This ignorant youth seeks your protection!” Vallavarayan spoke rapidly, hardly pausing for breath.

At these words, the face of Pazhuvettarayar tightened. But Sundara Chozhar’s face bloomed once more, and compassion overflowed on the queen’s countenance.

“It seems that Goddess Saraswati herself wrote upon this boy’s tongue at birth! His eloquence is truly astonishing!” exclaimed the queen.

Sensing his opportunity, Vandiyathevan said, “Mother! You must intercede for me with a word of kindness. I am an orphan, without father or mother, and have no other support. I must voice my own plea. Just as Parvati Devi pleads with Lord Shiva for her devotee, or Lakshmi Devi with Lord Vishnu, so must you speak on my behalf. Even if you restore to me just ten villages from our ancestral kingdom, I would be deeply satisfied!”

Hearing all this, Sundara Chozhar was filled with wonder and delight. He looked at the young Pazhuvettarayar and said, “Commander! I am greatly pleased with this youth. Judging by the queen’s face, it seems she is considering adopting him as her third child! Can we not grant his request? There is no difficulty in that, is there? What is your opinion?”

“In this matter, what place is there for my opinion? Should we not first learn the views of Prince Karikalan?” replied the commander of the Thanjai fortress.

“Emperor! If I ask the prince, he says I must ask Pazhuvoor Thevar. But Pazhuvoor Thevar says I must ask the prince. Between the two of them, my request is caught…”

“Child! Do not worry! We can summon both of them together and ask at the same time!” said the Emperor.

Then, turning to Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, he said, “Commander! This boy has brought a letter from the prince. As before, Aditya has written in his letter that I must come to Kanchipuram. It seems he has built a new golden palace there. He wants me to stay there for a few days!”

“Whatever Your Majesty wishes, so it shall be done!” said the commander of the fort.

“Ah! You may carry out my wishes as you please. But my legs refuse. Journeying to Kanchipuram is not possible for me. The very thought of traveling in a palanquin, veiled like the women of the palace, fills me with disgust. I must write another letter to Aditya Karikalan, telling him to come here instead of me going there…”

“Is it possible for the prince to leave Kanchipuram and come here at this time? Our enemies in the north are still strong!”

“Parthibendran and Malayaman will take care