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