As soon as he heard the news brought by Commander-in-Chief Bhoothi Vikramakesari, a smile blossomed on the prince’s face.

“At last, it seems an end has come to the turmoil within my heart,” he murmured in a gentle voice, as if speaking to himself.

Parthibendran sprang up, boiling with anger. “Commander! What did you say? Is this true? Why did you not tell me until now? Only now do I understand why you dragged this madwoman along with us! I ask again: is it true that the Pazhuvettaraiyars have sent ships to capture the prince and bring him back as a prisoner?” he demanded.

“Yes, my lord! If we are to believe what this woman claims to have seen with her own eyes and heard with her own ears, then it is true!”

“Aha! Then the words of that elder, the lord of Thirukovalur, Miladudaiyar, have proven true. He alone truly understood the Pazhuvettaraiyars! Commander! Even after learning such news, why do you remain idle? The scion of Paranthaka the Emperor, the beloved son of Sundara Chozhar, the prince cherished by all the towns and cities, the jewel whom all the people of Tamil Nadu hold as precious as their own eyes, Arulmozhi Varman, born with Aditya Karikalan—have these wretched Pazhuvettaraiyars truly dared to send men to capture him? What more is there to consider? Let us at once set out with our armies, destroy those who have come to imprison the prince, and raise their graves here on this very island of Lanka!… Afterwards, we shall proceed with our plans as we have devised! Come, let us go! Why do you still hesitate?” Parthibendran thundered, sparks flying from his words.

Commander Bhoothi Vikramakesari looked at him and said, “Parthibendra, it was precisely because I knew you would be so impetuous that I did not tell you the news this woman brought. This is a matter that requires careful thought. There is no use in haste!”

“Is there need for thought? What is there to consider? Why should we hesitate? Prince! You tell us. What is left to ponder? If you had any doubts before, surely now there is no room for hesitation? Should we not utterly destroy the Pazhuvettaraiyars?” At that moment, the prince calmly asked, without the slightest agitation, “Shall we not also learn what is in the mind of the Commander-in-Chief? Sir! What is it that you think we should be pondering?”

“To imprison you… Even to utter these words, my tongue hesitates… Yet, it must be said. If those who have come to imprison you have arrived bearing the Emperor’s own command, what are we to do then? Even then, should we fight against them?”

Hearing this, Parthibendran laughed aloud and said, “How splendid, your words! Is the Emperor in any position to issue commands of his own? Is he not himself held captive by the Pazhuvettarayars?”

At this juncture, Vandiyathevan interjected, “What the Pallava Commander says is entirely true. I have seen it with my own eyes. The Pazhuvettarayars are keeping the Emperor as though he were a prisoner. Without their permission, no one can see the Emperor, nor speak with him. When I dared utter a single word, the treatment they gave me… Ah! Even now, my wrist aches from the grip of the Younger Pazhuvettarayar’s iron hand!” he said, rubbing his wrist.

“Is that so, Vallavaraiya! I thought you were something else entirely. Tell the prince and the Commander-in-Chief once more, and make it clear!” said Parthibendran.

The prince replied, “No need; he has already said all that needs to be said!” Then, turning to Vandiyathevan, he said, “Sir! Did you not say you would go and bring that woman here? Why do you still stand here? We can hear the message she brings directly from her own lips! She seems a little touched in the head. Somehow, speak kindly and bring her here!”

“I shall go, Prince! I will bring her. But I cannot bear the thought of you being imprisoned by the Pazhuvettarayars. As long as life remains in my body, that shall never happen!” So saying, Vandiyathevan departed.

“Commander-in-Chief, you have yet to share your opinion,” Arulmozhi Varman asked.

“This is my view. You must not meet the men sent by the Pazhuvettarayars. Board the ship Parthibendran has brought and depart for Kanchi at once. I will go to Thanjavur. There, I will meet the Emperor in person and learn the true state of affairs…”

“To go to Thanjavur now is like placing your head into the lion’s jaws. If you go, you will not return. You will be thrown straight into the underground dungeons there. You will not even be able to see the Emperor…”

“What words are these? Who in Chola Nadu has the power to imprison me? Who has the courage to prevent me from meeting the Emperor? Moreover, the Prime Minister Aniruddha Brahmarayar is there…”

“Brahmarayar is there, yes. But what use is that? Even he cannot see the Emperor. Look, here stands his disciple—let us ask him what he has to say.”

The Commander-in-Chief turned to Azhwarkkadian. “Ah, I had forgotten that this Vaishnavite is standing here. Thirumalai! Why are you standing so silent? Have you, like the Prince just now, become mute?”

“Commander! God has given us two ears, but only one mouth. Therefore, my guru has instructed me: ‘Use your ears well; keep your speaking to a minimum.’ Especially, he has told me to strictly observe this vow in places where great affairs of state are being discussed.”

“You fulfill your guru’s words well. But now, since we are asking you, speak. What is your opinion?”

“About what matter do you seek my opinion, Commander?”

“About the matter we have been discussing all this while. What should the Prince do now? Should he remain in Lanka? Or should he go to Kanchi?”

“Shall I tell you my true opinion? If the Prince permits, I will speak.”

Arulmozhi Varman, who had been sunk in