With the two men of the fortress commander flanking him on either side, Vandiyathevan set out to explore the great fort of Thanjavur. He had no doubt that their presence was to ensure he did not slip away. It was equally certain that strict orders had been given not to let anyone leave through the fortress gates. Yet, before midnight that very night, Vandiyathevan was determined to escape. If Periya Pazhuvettarayar were to arrive, it would be impossible to flee; even staying alive would become a question!

Thus, as Vandiyathevan wandered here and there within the Thanjavur fort, feigning interest in the sights, his mind was ceaselessly occupied with thoughts of escape. First, he had to shake off these two Yama’s henchmen; then, he had to find a way out of the fortress itself. But how? That was the puzzle.

On the face of it, evading these two was not a great feat. He could, in a single swift moment, strike them both down and dash away. But where would he run? The strength and impregnability of the Thanjavur fort, built up by the Pazhuvettarayars, was legendary. People said that not even a breath of air could enter the fort without their permission. Even the Emperor himself had said that morning that Yama, the god of death, could not enter without leave. How then could he, a mere mortal, hope to escape?

If he were to attack these men, they would immediately raise an alarm. In the very next instant, he would be thrown into the underground dungeons—or worse, lose his life. There was no use in violence; only cunning and guile could save him. Once he escaped their watchful eyes, he would have to find a way out of the fortress. However strong a fort might be, there would always be some secret tunnel or passage. But how to find it? Who would know of it? And even if someone did, would they reveal it to him?

As he walked on, his mind spinning with such thoughts, suddenly the image of the young queen of Pazhuvoor flashed before him. Ah! If there was anyone within this fortress who might help him, it would be that noble lady. Even that was uncertain. But perhaps, by invoking the name of Azhwarkadiyan, he could attempt some clever ruse. To do so, he would first need to locate the palace of Periya Pazhuvettarayar. Even if he found it, he must ensure that these two guards did not discover his intent to meet the queen. If they did, they would surely go and inform Chinna Pazhuvettarayar... They would tell on me. Who knows what disaster might befall from that? What if, by chance, while Periya Pazhuvettarayar is in the palace, he himself arrives? What would I do then? It would be like walking straight into the lion’s den and offering my head!

While Vandiyathevan’s mind was thus occupied with anxious thoughts, his mouth and eyes were far from idle. To those following behind him, he kept asking, “What is that? What is this?”, “Whose palace is that?”, “Whose mansion is this?”, “What building is that?”, “What tower is that?” His ears listened keenly, hoping to catch a reply such as, “That is the palace of Periya Pazhuvettarayar,” or “That is the palace of the Young Queen of Pazhuvur.” His eyes, meanwhile, scanned carefully to the left and right, taking in everything around him.

As he observed in this manner, one thing became firmly imprinted in his mind. Though the main streets within the fortress were broad and bustling with people, there were also countless alleys and byways. There were many tree-filled gardens. It would not be impossible to slip away through those alleys and vanish into the thick gardens. One could remain hidden for a day or two, perhaps. But to do so, it must be at a time when no one was watching; he must not be sought after by anyone. If Chinna Pazhuvettarayar set his countless men to search for him, hiding would be impossible. Or else, he would have to enter someone’s house and seek refuge there. But who, within the fortress of Thanjai, would offer him sanctuary? Only the Queen of Pazhuvur might do so. He would have to employ all his powers of imagination, spin a convincing tale, and persuade her to believe him. But first, he must escape from those following him…

Ah! What is this commotion? What is this uproar?—Oh! Who are these people moving in such a crowd? God! There is no doubt that you are on my side. Here, a way reveals itself! Here, a new ally appears!

As he reached a turning at a cross street, Vandiyathevan saw a large group proceeding along the main road, accompanied by the sounds of drums and triumphant shouts. He realized that those in the group were Velakkara soldiers. As was customary, they must have paid their respects to the Maharaja and were now leaving the fortress! What if he mingled with this crowd?… Ah! What better means of escape could there be than this?

Those following behind would not let him go so easily. If he joined the crowd, they too would follow. It would not be easy to leave through the fortress gate! Would the guards at the gate be so easily fooled? Would they not spot him and stop him? Nevertheless—

One must at least make an attempt; there is no other way. If one does not make use of this path that God Himself has revealed, then there is no greater fool than oneself.

As usual, Vandiyathevan looked at those following behind and asked, “What is this crowd?” When they replied, “The Velakkara army,” he began to inquire about the details of that force. He expressed his desire to join such a valiant army and said that, for that reason, he wished to get a closer look.

Conversing thus, he approached the Velakkara troops. After a short while, saying, “I want to see those