Kodumbalur’s Periya Velar, the Commander-in-Chief Boothi Vikrama Kesari, was a man seasoned by age and experience; a veteran who had braved many battlefields and earned his scars. He was bound to the Chola dynasty by deep friendship and kinship. His younger brother, the Chinna Velar of Kodumbalur, had attained a hero’s heaven on the battlefield of Lanka a few years earlier. The army that had accompanied him had also suffered defeat and was forced to return. Boothi Vikrama Kesari was deeply aggrieved by this stain upon their honor and was determined to erase it, to restore the valorous reputation of Kodumbalur. That was why, despite his advancing years, he had come to Lanka to lead the army himself.

We have already seen how the machinations of the Pazhuvettaraiyars had hindered the proper conduct of the Lankan war. The long-standing rivalry and enmity between those two minor royal houses had now grown even more intense because of these events. Therefore, it was inevitable that Vandiyathevan, who had been apprehended with the Pazhuvur signet, would face difficulties with the Periya Velar, the Commander-in-Chief.

Fortunately, Aniruddha Brahmarayar had occasion to mention this matter to him. Having learned the truth about Vandiyathevan from Alwarkadiyan, Aniruddha had immediately sent him to Commander Boothi Vikrama Kesari to reveal the facts.

The Commander-in-Chief, Boothi Vikrama Kesari, scrutinized the young warrior of the Vanar clan from head to toe and must have formed a favorable impression of him. In a kindly tone, he asked, “Young man! Were you properly looked after here? Did you have a place to stay, and was your food adequate?”

“Yes, Commander! They took care of me without any shortcoming. There were always five or six attendants at the door, ready to carry out any order. Accommodation was plentiful. For dinner, they even sent me a cat. Just as I was about to eat it, I saw this brave Vaishnavite and became angry. The cat, scratched by his nails, ran away!” replied Vandiyathevan.

The Commander laughed. “Oh ho! This boy seems to be quite a jester! Thirumalai, is what he says true?”

“Commander! His ancestors were poets. So, he has a vivid imagination. But apart from that, what he says is true. When I went to see him, a cat did scratch my hands and legs!” said Alwarkadiyan. Looking at the bloodied wounds on his body, Commander-in-Chief Boothi Vikrama Kesari burst into laughter again and again.

“A mere cat has caused you all this trouble! Fortunate indeed! At least you had this brave man as your guide on the forest path…”

“Commander! I do not need a guide. My walking stick is sufficient for me. It was only because I left it behind to go see him that I landed in this predicament…”

“In that case, you be his guide! Before you set out, make sure he is given a proper meal, and only then depart! Young man! At present, food is rather scarce in Lanka. All the tanks and lakes here have had their banks breached by Mahindan’s soldiers. Because of that, agriculture is not proceeding as it should. There are not enough people to farm, either. The people of this land themselves are starving. How can our soldiers get food? Even from our own country, enough rice is not being sent…”

“Commander! I am well aware of this. When the Young Princess traveled through the valiant barracks of Pazhaiyarai, I heard the women complaining to her. ‘In Lanka, our husbands and sons are starving!’ they lamented…”

“Oh! So the complaints have reached there as well? Good, good! And what reply did the Young Princess give them?”

“The Commander-in-Chief Periya Velar is in Lanka; as long as he is there, he will not let our soldiers die of hunger. She told them not to worry and comforted them thus…”

“Ah! Did the Young Princess say so? In this world, many royal families have produced maidens of great renown. But there is no one to equal our Young Princess…”

“There is one other princess who might be mentioned next, Commander!”

“And who is that, young man?”

“The Princess Vanathi Devi of Kodumbalur!”

“Ah! This boy is truly incorrigible. His imagination might even enchant me. Young man! Did you see the light of our lineage in Pazhaiyarai?”

“I saw them, sir! How could I not, when the young princess and her companion are never apart? The two of them mounted the elephant together, just as the lamp cannot part from its light, the flower from its fragrance, or the body from its shadow—so too Vanathi Devi will never leave the young princess…”

“Ah! This boy is very clever! Thirumalai! Take him to our treasury, give him whatever garments and ornaments he desires, and bring him back!”

“Sir! Let everything remain in the treasury for now. When I return, I will collect what I need and take them with me.”

“Brother! About our household’s women, about Vanathi—did the young princess send me any message?”

“Commander! I do not wish to lie to you.”

“Never lie to anyone, at any time, brother!”

“In the matter of this Veera Vaishnavar, please grant me an exception, Commander; if I tell him the truth, my head will surely burst…”

“No, no!… It seems the young princess has not sent me any message!”

“She did not send you a message. But…”

“But what?”

“She has sent it to the one who ought to receive it. She has instructed me to convey certain matters about Vanathi Devi directly to the prince…”

“I have never seen a sharper lad than you!” exclaimed the Commander-in-Chief, Periya Velar, embracing Vandiyathevan to his chest. Then he said, “Enough of wasting time; set out at once!”

“Sir! Must this Veera Vaishnavar accompany me? Can I not go alone, without him?”

“What objection do you have to his coming?”

“I have no objection. But the dagger at my waist is a true Veerasaiva blade. For a long time, it has been thirsting for ‘Veera Vaishnava blood.’ If, against