Within the walls of Thanjai Fort, the royal mint where gold coins were cast was itself built like a small fortress. The outer security of the mint was as formidable as that at the main gates of Thanjai Fort. That evening, when Kundavai Devi and Vanathi went to visit the mint, the goldsmiths were just finishing their work and preparing to leave. The gatekeepers were ready to search the goldsmiths before letting them out. The goldsmiths gathered near the entrance.

At that moment, the royal chariot arrived and halted at the mint’s gate. Kundavai and Vanathi alighted. At the sight of them, both the guards and the goldsmiths forgot themselves and cried out, “Long live the young princess!” The head of the mint hurried forward and welcomed the royal maidens with great enthusiasm. He led them inside and showed them the blazing fire-pit where gold was melted, the molds used for minting coins, and the newly struck coins themselves.

That day’s freshly minted gold coins lay in heaps on one side. The gleam of that pure gold dazzled the eyes. On one side of each coin was stamped the seal of a tiger, and on the other, the seal of a ship.

“Do you see, Vanathi? For countless ages, gold from all corners of the world has flowed into this Chola land. It came by land, it came by sea. Until now, the responsibility of carrying all that gold has fallen upon the women of Chola Nadu. They bore it as ornaments, adorning themselves, unable to sleep for the weight they carried. But in recent times, that burden upon the women of Chola Nadu has begun to lessen. Our Lord of Tanjore, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, has arranged for dazzling gold coins like these to be minted!” said Kundavai.

“Akka! What convenience does this bring?” Vanathi asked.

“What convenience? Oh, you know nothing, girl! When gold is made into coins like this, it is easy to measure its value without having to weigh it each time. It is convenient for the people to pay taxes to the government. Merchants, when trading with foreigners, need not struggle to barter goods for goods. They can buy goods with gold coins; they can sell goods and receive gold coins in return. That is why the traders of Chola Nadu praise our Lord Pazhuvettaraiyar… Let me tell you one more thing. Listen!” Kundavai lowered her voice as she spoke. She said, “For those who plot against the Emperor and his family, these coins offer great convenience. Even the most virtuous men can be turned into traitors through these gold coins, can they not?”

The words Kundavai spoke last fell lightly upon the ears of the chief officer of the mint who stood nearby. That officer replied, “Yes, my lady! We hear of such dreadful rumors in these times. That is why, for some days now, the security around this mint has been greatly increased. The number of those coming to and going from the underground prison beneath has also grown!”

“There are those who come; but are there also those who leave?” Kundavai asked.

“Why not? That too happens. This very morning, someone was brought in. Barely an hour ago, he was taken away again!” said the officer.

“Who could that be?” Kundavai wondered, a trace of surprise in her voice.

They passed through the various work areas within the mint, then proceeded toward the back. There, in the rear wall, was a small door. They opened it and went through. The place they entered was dimly lit, the ceiling low. From all sides came a rumbling sound that would make the hair on one’s neck stand on end. A servant stood holding a torch. By its light, as they looked around, they saw many cages, and within them, tigers imprisoned. Some were royal Bengal tigers, some leopards. Some lay sprawled; others paced back and forth within their cages. In the dim light of that place, their eyes glowed like embers.

Kundavai gripped Vanathi’s hand tightly and said, “Dear girl! Are you frightened? Don’t faint and fall down here!”

Vanathi laughed softly and replied, “Why should I fear the tiger, sister? Is not the tiger the guardian of our clan?”

“At times, even the guardians may join hands with the enemy, may they not? Then the danger is all the greater.”

“No, sister! Human guards may perhaps betray us. But these tigers would never do such a thing!”

“One cannot say. These tigers have devoured many a traitor to the realm. Their blood must surely run in the veins of these beasts, must it not?”

“Just now, Vanathi had declared, ‘I have no fear,’ yet now her body trembled slightly.

‘Akka! What are you saying? Would they really throw living people to these tigers as prey?’ she asked.

‘They would not do such a thing. Did I not tell you that beneath this golden hall lies an underground prison? There is only one way in and out of it. That passage lies here, in this Tiger Hall. If anyone tries to escape from the prison, they must come into this hall. Then, they will become prey for the tigers!’

‘Shiva, Shiva! What cruelty is this?’

‘Such is the nature of a kingdom! There is mercy; there is cruelty too. Vanathi! There may come a time when even I am locked away in that underground prison. If you had heard what the Younger Pazhuvettaraiyar said to me today…’

‘That would be a fine thing, Akka! There is no one in all the fourteen worlds who has the power to imprison you. If anyone even tried, would not the earth split open and swallow up this very city of Thanjai? I have no fear for you. It is our old friend, the physician’s son from Pazhaiyarai, whom I worry about. That gentle boy—surely he would not have tried to escape, would he?’

‘A gentle boy, yes! But who can say when and how people might change?’

The tigers’