In the distance, the thunderous roar of drums was heard. Trumpets blared. Human voices shouted in jubilation. The sounds of the fortress gates opening and closing, and the heavy footfalls of elephants and horses, echoed through the air.

Vandiyathevan realized that these sounds had caught Nandini’s attention. The nurse who stood guard started in alarm, came a little closer, and said, “Amma! It seems the lord has arrived.”

Nandini replied, “I know; you go back to your place!”

Then, turning to Vandiyathevan, she said, “The Commander is entering the fort. After inquiring about the Emperor’s health and meeting the commander of the garrison, he will come here. You must leave before he arrives. What is the message Alwarkadiyan brought?”

“Lady! That valiant Vaishnavite claimed you as his sister; is that true?” Vallavaraiyan asked.

“Why do you doubt that?”

“If someone said that a green parrot and a wild monkey were children of the same mother, would it be easy to believe?”

Nandini laughed and said, “In a way, what he said is true. We grew up in the same house, in the same family. He cherished me as a younger sister. Alas! I have caused him great disappointment!”

“In that case, it is well! The message Alwarkadiyan sent for you is that Lord Krishna is waiting for you. The multitudes of Vaishnavite devotees are also waiting to witness your wedding with Kannan!”

Nandini let out a deep sigh. “Ah! It seems he has not yet rid himself of that delusion! If you see him, tell him this from me. Tell him to forget me completely! Tell him I am in no way worthy to be a supreme devotee like Andal!”

“I do not agree with that, Amma!” “What is it that I did not accept?”

“It is only that you cannot become the Goddess herself that I did not accept. The Goddess had to worship, sing hymns, weep tears, string garlands of flowers and adorn herself with them before she could wed Krishna. But you need not undergo such hardships. All that is required is for Lord Krishna to lay eyes upon you. He would instantly forsake Rukmini, Satyabhama, Radha, and all the Gopikas, and seat you upon the throne where they once sat!”

“Sir! You are most skilled in flattery. I do not care for it in the least.”

“My lady! What do you mean by flattery?”

“To praise someone to their face—that is flattery.”

“In that case, please turn away and sit with your back to me.”

“For what purpose?”

“So that I may praise you without seeing your face, but only your back. There would be nothing wrong in that, would there?”

“You are exceedingly mischievous in your speech.”

“Is it not you who are flattering me now?”

“And are you not turning your face away and showing only your back?”

“Queen! Whether on the battlefield or before ladies, I have never turned my back. You may freely praise me as much as you wish!”

At this, Nandini laughed aloud, a clear, ringing sound.

“You are truly a magician; there is no doubt! It has been a long time since I laughed so openly!” she said.

“But, my lady! It is most dangerous to make you laugh! When the lotus smiled in the pond, the honeybee swooned and fell!” said Vandiyathevan.

“You are not only a magician, but seem to be a poet as well!”

“I do not fear flattery, nor will I falter at poetry.”

“Who made you thus?”

“Did you not just now call me a ‘poet’?”

“If that is so?”

“When I was a boy, some people used to call me ‘monkey-face!’ Only today, after so many years, have I heard it again from your coral-red lips.”

“They called you ‘monkey-face’? Who were those clever people?”

“None of them are alive now.”

“I did not call you that. I merely said you looked like someone who could sing poetry.”

“I do compose a little poetry; but only before my enemies. If they do not die by the arrow, let them die by the word!”

“Sir, O poet-warrior Veerasimha! You still haven’t told me your name!”

“My given name is Vandiyathevan; my title is Vallavaraiyan.”

“Are you of royal lineage?”

“I come from the ancient and renowned Vanathi Raja clan.”

“And your kingdom now?”

“The sky above; the earth below; at this moment, I am the sole emperor of the entire world!”

For a moment, Nandini gazed at Vallavaraiyan, her eyes lingering on him.

“Nothing is impossible. You could regain your ancestral kingdom.”

“How is that possible? Does anything return from the belly of a tiger? Can a kingdom that has merged into the Chola Empire ever be restored?”

“I can make it happen.”

“Lady! No, thank you! I have never desired to rule a kingdom. Whatever little longing I had vanished completely after seeing Sundara Chola today. Rather than becoming an emperor by depending on the hands of others, I would prefer to be a free man, uncertain even of where my next meal will come from.”

“My thoughts are the same!” said Nandini. Then, as if suddenly recalling something she had forgotten, she asked, “Why are the men of the Younger Pazhuvettaraiyar searching for you?”

“Just as your nursemaid’s daughter suspects me, so too has he begun to harbor doubts about me.”

“What sort of doubts?”

“How did the signet ring bearing the palmyra emblem come into my possession?”

A faint trace of fear appeared on Nandini’s face.

“Where is the ring?” she asked in a startled voice.

“Here it is, Lady! Would I so easily let go of it?” he said, taking out the ring and showing it to her.

“How did he come to know that you have it?” Nandini asked.

“For a long time, I have wished to see Sundara Chola Chakravarthi. To fulfill that desire, I made use of this signet ring. After I had seen him, the commander of the fort asked me how this ring came into