Once the above decision had been reached, Commander-in-Chief Boothi Vikramakesari took Parthibendran aside and spoke with him privately for some time. Afterwards, he issued a few separate orders to the soldiers who had accompanied him.

Parthibendran then took leave of the prince. “Sir! I am returning empty-handed, my mission unfulfilled. For this, Karikalan will be greatly angered with me. But what can I do? You are adamant in your refusal; I am not to blame. All those present here are witnesses to this!” he declared.

The prince asked, “Is it necessary for you to leave in such haste? Could you not at least accompany the Commander-in-Chief as far as Thondaimanaru before departing?”

“I will not be a party to that treachery. The ship I came on is anchored at Trincomalee. I must go there, board the ship, and proceed to Kanchi as soon as possible. I must report all that has transpired to Karikalan!” Parthibendran replied.

Then, turning to Vandiyathevan, he asked, “Vallavaraiyan! Will you not come with me to Kanchi?”

Vandiyathevan hesitated for a moment and then replied, “No; I wish to go with the prince.”

“Very well; you will regret not coming with me!” Parthibendran said, and departed. In accordance with the Commander-in-Chief’s orders, several other soldiers left with him.

Vandiyathevan turned to Azhwarkadiyan and asked, “What did that Pallavan mean by his words? Why did he say I would regret not going with him? Do you know anything about it?”

“They have certainly conspired together! We shall soon learn the details of their plot. In truth, the root cause of the predicament we now face is this very Kodumbalur Elder!” he replied.

“How so? What could the Commander-in-Chief have done?”

“It is all his doing. You know, do you not, that a woman from his family is being raised in Pazhayarai?” “Of course I know—are you speaking of Vanathi Devi?”

“Yes; the Commander-in-Chief desires to have that maiden wed to the Prince, crown him as King of Lanka, and place the island’s diadem upon his head through the hands of devout gurus. It was he who sent those pious teachers to offer the Lankan crown. Did you think he kept his efforts secret? Not at all. The news has already reached Thanjavur. That is why Prime Minister Aniruddha came to Lanka; he sent me to the Prince as well. Vandiyathevan! Whatever may happen, we must safeguard our own lives. We may be called upon in Thanjavur to bear witness that the Prince refused the throne of Lanka!”

By now, the Commander-in-Chief’s business was concluded. Except for four of the soldiers who had accompanied him, the rest dispersed in different directions. At last, the Prince’s party set out. The Prince, the Commander-in-Chief, Vandiyathevan, Alwarkadiyan, and the aforementioned four soldiers mounted noble steeds and rode northward. Following them, Poonguzhali’s elephant strode majestically, trumpeting “jam jam” with every step. Apart from Poonguzhali, only the mahout sat atop the elephant.

For a short distance, they traveled along the royal road. But