The first man created by God lived on the slopes of a mountain. For rain and wind, the mountain cave offered him shelter. The wild trees of the forest gave him the fruits he needed for food. The beasts of the jungle trembled at the sight of him. Like the birds of the sky, he lived freely, without want or worry. Yet, deep within his heart, there was some lack—an unknown longing that would not leave him. Some magnetic force seemed to draw him, to pull him towards something. His heart searched for a rare treasure, a joy he had never seen, felt, or known before. By day, he imagined it; by night, he dreamed of it. “Where shall I find that wondrous thing created just for me—the fruit of the wish-giving tree, the magnet that draws me? When shall I see it?”—thus his heart yearned and suffered.

At the same moment that He created the first man, God also created the first woman. She lived on the other side of the mountain’s slope. She had food for her hunger, spring water for her thirst, and a mountain cave for shelter. Outwardly, nothing seemed lacking. But within, a spark of fire burned her, a flame that would not die. Some force drew her, pulled her along. She did not know from where that force was pulling her, or in which direction it led.

Between the first man and the first woman, a great mountain stood tall, preventing them from meeting each other.

One day, in the heat of summer, by the law of nature, fire broke out in the forest and began to spread in all directions. The fire circled the mountain, racing swiftly. The man and the woman realized that if they entered the forest, they would be in danger, and so they climbed up the mountain. At the summit, they saw each other. Their eyes met and remained locked, unblinking. They forgot the forest fire. They forgot why they had climbed to the mountaintop. They forgot hunger and thirst entirely. By an inner knowledge, they understood that all the life they had lived so far was for this one meeting. They realized that this was the unknown force that had drawn them together. They understood that the lack in one could be filled and completed by the other. They knew with certainty that no power in the world could ever separate those who had thus come together. The divine creator, Brahmadeva, who beheld this wondrous scene, felt a profound and perfect satisfaction, realizing that the work he had begun was now proceeding in the finest manner!

At that moment, our Vallavarayan and Kundavai Devi resembled that primordial man and woman spoken of in ancient tales. Their innermost feelings told them that all their birth and growth upon this earth had been for this very instant—for this meeting. Yet, unlike those first man and woman, were they not children of civilization? Therefore, they could not forget the differences in their respective stations. They did not surrender themselves entirely to emotion, nor did they let their hearts run wild and unrestrained. For a moment, their eyes met and gazed deep into each other’s, and in the next instant, they turned their gaze aside to look at the flowers, trees, butterflies, and the stream nearby.

Only after Isana Sivapattar cleared his throat did the two remember that they had come together here for some important purpose.

“Is it true that you asked Isana Pattar to arrange a private meeting with me?” the young princess inquired, her voice sharpened and her tone commanding.

The sternness and authority in her voice made Vandiyathevan stand up straight.

“How can I answer your question unless I know who you are? I am beginning to suspect that Isana Pattar has brought me to the wrong person!” replied the young warrior.

“I, too, have the same suspicion. Whom did you wish to see?”

“I told Isana Sivapattar that I wished to see the shining jewel of the ancient Chola lineage, the beloved daughter of Sundara Chola, the younger sister of Aditya Karikalan, the cherished sister of Arulmozhi Varman, the young princess Kundavai Devi…”

Kundavai Devi smiled and said, “I am indeed the one who bears all those great titles, though I can barely withstand the weight of such honor!”

“In that case, the radiant lady I saw at the house of the Kudanthai astrologer and on the banks of the Arisil river was not you, was she?” asked Vallavarayan.

“Yes, yes! It was I who behaved so discourteously toward you in both those places. You could not have expected to meet that uncivilized maiden again so soon, could you?”

“It is not quite right to say we shall meet again, Devi!”

“Why not?”

“Only if we had parted could we speak of meeting again, could we not? But you have not left my thoughts for even a single moment…”

“I did not expect the people of Thondai Mandalam to speak with such subtle wit.”

“You would grant all greatness only to the land of Cholas, it seems. You will not bestow even a little honor upon other lands.”

“Yes, I confess I am guilty of that. Perhaps you do not like our Chola country!”

“How could I not? I like it very much indeed. But there are two great dangers in this Chola land. The mere thought of them fills me with fear…”

“The swords and spears of Chola warriors are indeed dangerous weapons! Foreigners must tread carefully here—especially those who come to work as spies…”

“Princess! Those are not the two dangers I meant. I too possess a sword and spear. I know well how to wield them…”

“Did I not witness the might of your spear that day on the banks of the Arisil river? How swiftly your spear struck the dead crocodile! With a single blow, you brought out all the cotton that was packed inside it!”

“Lady! I did not know that the