Just as he had gained wisdom, strength, and experience in equal measure, the words spoken at last by the ruler of Thirukovalur, Malayaman, did not cause Aditya Karikalan to faint and collapse! Yet, for a moment, he stood paralyzed, bereft of action. Parthibendran too was struck dumb, standing in silence. It seemed as if even the sea had stilled its roar. In the distance, even the “Eleyo!” cries of those unloading goods from boats onto the wooden ships had faded into silence at that moment.

Ashamed for having allowed himself to be so surprised, Aditya Karikalan swiftly raised his gaze to his grandfather’s face and said, “Grandfather! I too have heard that some people in the towns and villages speak thus. I thought it was nothing but a baseless rumor. But you speak with such certainty! Do you say this with full knowledge? Can such a thing truly happen?”

“Why can it not happen?” replied Malayaman Miladudaiyar. “Before your grandfather, it was your great-uncle Kandaraditha Devar who ruled the Chola land! His son has even more right to this kingdom than you, does he not?”

“Absolutely not! That utter fool, who cannot speak two words, who has never wielded a sword, who was born a man by accident when he should have been born a woman—does he have a right to this kingdom? Is it for him? For Aditya Karikalan, who, at twelve years of age, set foot on the battlefield, who is the lion that slew Veera Pandiyan, who knows not the meaning of defeat, the bravest of the brave—does he not have the right? Sir! Miladudaiyar! Has your wisdom faded with your advancing years?” Parthibendran burst out in anger.

Karikalan silenced him with a stern glance and said, “Grandfather! This kingdom means nothing to me. If I wished, with the help of my sword, I could establish ten such kingdoms. But where is the justice in this? If, from the beginning, it had been declared that the kingdom was for Madurantakan, I would never have stood in the way. Before the whole country, before the cities, before all the people, I was proclaimed heir and crowned as prince. How can it be changed now? Are you in agreement with this?”

“I do not agree, nor will I ever agree. If you consent and say you will give the kingdom to Madurantakan, first I will strike you down with this sword and make an end of you. Then, the woman who bore you for ten months—” “I will cut down your mother. Then, I, who fathered you, will also cut myself down with my own hand and die. As long as there is life in my body, I will not let this Chola kingdom slip away from you!” thundered the old man. As he roared, a flash of lightning seemed to blaze in his dimmed eyes. His entire body, weakened by emotion and agitation, trembled uncontrollably.

Parthibendran cried out, “Say it again, Grandfather! Say it again!” and rushed forward to embrace Malayaman. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Karikalan, too, stood for a moment gazing out at the deep sea. Then, turning to his grandfather, he said, “Grandfather! If that is your resolve, why hesitate? Let us at once gather our forces and set out for Thanjavur. We will destroy the Pazhuvettaraiyars and all those allied with them—the Mazhavarayars, Sambhuvarayars, Mutharayars, Munaiyarayars—in a single stroke and seize the fort at Thanjavur. We will imprison Madurantakan and free the Emperor. If we have your blessings, what more do we need? If Parthibendran and I join together, who in this world could defeat us?” he declared with pride.

“It is true, you cannot be defeated in battle. But what will you do if cunning and treachery rise against you? As you approach Thanjavur with your army, rumors will spread that a son is coming to wage war against his own father! They will say that the Emperor, unable to bear such disgrace, has given up his life. There will be those among the people who believe such tales, will there not? In such a situation, what will you do, my child? Even your own heart will falter! Can you bear the shame of being called one who came to wage war against his own father?”

Aditya Karikalan covered his ears and cried, “Shiva, Shiva! I cannot bear to hear it!”

“That is why I said at the very beginning—great danger surrounds us!”

“What is the way out, Grandfather? What is the way?”

“First, we must send a trustworthy man to Lanka. We must send him to bring Arulmozhi back. He will not easily leave the battlefield or his loyal soldiers. We must send someone who has the power to change his mind and bring him back…”

Parthibendran stepped forward and said, “Sir! If you permit, I myself will go and bring him back!” “That is Karikalan’s wish; and yours as well. But the one who goes—like Vandiyathevan—should not meddle in matters that do not concern him…”

“Did you hear that? Didn’t I tell you so?” said Parthibendran.

“Grandfather, have you received any news about Vandiyathevan?” asked Aditya Karikalan.

“At first, I even suspected him—wondered if he too had joined our enemies. But later, that suspicion was dispelled.”

“Did you hear that, Parthibendra!” said Karikalan.

“Let him finish. Why are you so impatient? Sir! What suspicion did you have about Vandiyathevan?”

“On the day the assembly was held at the Samburayar palace, I learned that he too was present there. But later, I found out he was not involved in the conspiracy.”

“Grandfather! How did you come to know all this?”

“I did not receive an invitation to the feast at Kadambur palace. That itself aroused some suspicion in me. Later, I captured the elder of Kundrathur, who had attended the event and was returning to his village, and brought him to the prison in my mountain fortress. From him, I learned everything that had transpired there. Vandiyathevan is a friend of