They gathered the body of Kalapathi along with those of the other dead sailors, stacked them with dry wooden logs, and performed the cremation. As the fire was lit and began to blaze, Commander-in-Chief Boothi Vikrama Kesari noticed tears welling up on the prince’s face.

“My lord! Are you weeping for the death of these sinners? The gods themselves have meted out fitting punishment to these traitors who came to imprison you. Why should you grieve?” he asked.

“Commander, these men are not traitors; nor do I mourn for their deaths. I grieve that such an evil time has come upon the Chola land,” the prince replied.

“Evil times arrived along with the Pazhuvettaraiyars. Nothing new has happened now!”

“Something new has indeed happened. If the ship’s sailors have begun to disobey Kalapathi’s orders, what greater calamity could befall the kingdom than this? Commander, this is but a small sign! I fear that, just like this, divisions may arise everywhere in the Chola realm! If that happens, this great empire founded by Vijayalaya Chola will be torn asunder! Should such a disaster occur because of me? I have heard the tale of the Mahabharata. When Duryodhana was born, the epic says that jackals and wolves howled ominously. Surely, when I was born too, jackals and dogs must have howled in terror!” said the prince.

“My lord! When you were born into this world, every auspicious omen that could possibly arise did so. The astrologers who cast your horoscope—”

“That is enough, Commander! Enough! My ears have grown weary of hearing such talk. Let my horoscope be as it may. The time has come for us to part ways. Commander, I ask this of you: If any of the sailors who disobeyed Kalapathi’s orders from these ships come to you, you must not take them in. You must immediately imprison them and send them to Thanjai.”

“Prince! We have only heard what Kalapathi said. We have not heard the sailors’ side. How can we judge by listening to only one side? Is that just or righteous? Come with me. Those sailors—” “Decide after you have heard what they have to say…”

“Sir! That is not possible. Do as you see fit. I cannot delay here even for a moment longer. I must leave at once. Where is the boatman?” he asked.

“Where do you wish to go, Prince? Why do you need the boatman?”

“Is it necessary for you to ask about that? I must go to the ship that is to carry Vandiyathevan. Has not that peerless warrior, for my sake, boarded the Arab vessel and fallen into grave danger? Can I abandon him? As if the sins I have already committed are not enough, should I add betrayal of friendship to them as well…?”

“Sir! You have never knowingly committed any sin. Even if you say so, the world would not accept it. Vandiyathevan is but a reckless fellow, one who acts without a trace of forethought. How can