Princess Kundavai took the palm-leaf letter that Vandiyathevan extended to her and read it. Until then, her face, which had been drawn tight with furrowed brows, now blossomed and shone with radiance.

She looked up at Vallavaraiyan and asked, “You have delivered the letter. What do you intend to do next?”

“My duty is done once I have handed over the letter to you. Now, I must return to my town.”

“Your work is not finished; it has only just begun!”

“I do not understand what you mean, Devi!”

“Does not the prince write here that you are worthy of being entrusted with even the most secret of tasks? Will you not act accordingly?”

“I came here having agreed to that with the prince. But I beg you, do not entrust any important task to me. I earnestly request this of you.”

“I do not understand your request. Is it the way of the Vanar clan to withdraw after once giving their word?”

“To boast of ancient glory is not the Vanar tradition; nor is it our way to go back on our word after agreeing to something.”

“Then why this hesitation? Is it some aversion you bear towards women? Or is it that you do not like me?” asked the princess, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Ah! What a question is this? Would the sea ever not desire the moon? If it did not, why would it stretch out its thousand arms of waves, leaping to clasp the full moon? Who would say the earth does not long for the blue sky? If it did not, why would it gaze all night with a thousand thousand starry eyes, brimming with yearning? Would the cloud not desire the lightning? If it did not, why would it split itself and fiercely embrace the lightning, pressing it to its breast? Is there such a thing as a bee not loving the flower? If so, why would it ceaselessly circle the flower, intoxicated, and fall upon it? Would anyone believe that the moth does not love the lamp? If so, why does it whirl around the lamp’s... Does it die when it falls into the light? Devi! You have asked a fine question! If I do not like you, then why does the glance from the corner of your eye leave me so bewildered? Why does the gentle smile that plays at the edge of your lips drive me to such a state of delirium?… All these thoughts arose in Vandiyathevan’s heart. Yet, he could not utter them aloud.

“Sir! You have not answered my question. Is the brave man born of the Vanar clan hesitant to carry out the bidding of a mere woman? When the prince gave you this letter, did he not tell you what was written in it?” the princess asked again.

“Devi! I set out fully understanding the prince’s wishes. But now it seems fortunate that I did not begin my journey at once. Along the way, I have made enemies at every turn. I have even turned a close friend into a foe. On all sides, enemies are searching for me. In such a situation, how can I promise to fulfill the task you entrust to me? That is why I hesitate. I would not wish for your mission to fail because of me,” said Vallavaraiyan.

“Who are these enemies? May I know?” Kundavai asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“The Pazhuvettaraiyars have sent men everywhere to hunt me down. Kandhamaran, who was once my dearest friend, now believes I tried to stab him in the back. A valiant Vaishnavite in disguise, known as Alwarkadiyan, is trailing me. The young queen of Pazhuvur, Nandini Devi, has set a sorcerer upon me. At any moment, I may fall into the hands of one or another—I do not know when or where…”

The memory of that night, when he escaped the flood only to encounter the sorcerer, flashed through Vandiyathevan’s mind. Fearing the dangers of traveling by day, he had spent his time hiding in bamboo groves and plantain orchards. At night, he walked along the riverbank. After journeying a great distance and growing weary, he reached an abandoned old mandapam in the third watch of the night. Outside, the moon shone as brightly as midday. Even inside the mandapam, the moonlight streamed in for some distance, illuminating the place. Passing through the lit area, Vandiyathevan lay down in the shadowed part. As sleep began to close around his eyes, the ominous hoot of an owl sounded very close by.

When he was speaking with the younger queen of Pazhuvoor in the Latha Mandapam, that same owl-like voice echoed in his memory, startling him to his feet. From the darkened part of the hall, two small points of light stared intently at him.

He thought to slip outside and took two steps forward. At that moment, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from outside. Grasping a crumbling, jagged pillar, he hid himself behind it. The face of the one entering was faintly visible in the moonlight.

He realized it was the sorcerer who had come to see the queen of Pazhuvoor. The sorcerer walked straight toward the pillar. Vandiyathevan thought the man did not know he was hiding there and would pass by into the mandapam without noticing him. But as the sorcerer drew near, he crept forward like a cat, and suddenly, with a fearsome cry, seized Vandiyathevan’s throat with one hand and twisted it.

"Give it! Hand over that palmyra signet ring! If you refuse, I’ll wring your neck and kill you!" he shouted.

Vandiyathevan felt as if his neck would snap; his eyes seemed about to pop from their sockets. He struggled to breathe. Yet he steeled his mind. With one hand, he pressed against the old pillar, lifted one leg, and with all his strength, delivered a powerful kick. The sorcerer howled and fell to the ground. At that very moment, the