Looking at the silent young princess, Prime Minister Aniruddha asked, “Mother! Why do you remain silent? Do you still trust Vandiyathevan?”

“Sir! Jewel among ministers! What can I say? If you continue speaking like this for a while longer, you will make me start doubting myself!” replied the princess.

“Such are the times, dear child! Deciding whom to trust and whom not to trust is not so easy these days. Enemies surround us on all sides; mysterious conspiracies are unfolding everywhere!” said Prime Minister Aniruddha.

“Even so, it seems there is no mystery you do not know, no intrigue hidden from you. How did you learn so many details about the messenger I sent?” asked Kundavai Devi.

“My dear! I am one with a thousand eyes and two thousand ears. They are spread across the land. My men are present even in the fortress of Pazhuvoor. Among the bodyguards of the younger queen of Pazhuvoor, there is one who sends me news. There are many who, like Azhwarkadiyan, roam from town to town and bring me tidings. I believe that in the neighboring lands, nothing can happen without my knowledge. Yet, who knows? There may be those who can deceive even me. Mysteries unknown to me may yet unfold!”

As the Prime Minister spoke thus, Kundavai wondered if this formidable man also knew that Ponniyin Selvan was now at the Choodamani Vihara. With great effort, she suppressed that thought and did not let it show.

“Sir! All that you say may be true; but I cannot believe that valiant scion of the Vanar clan could be the spy of the Pazhuvoor queen. Please, have mercy and set him free!” she pleaded.

“Think carefully, dear child! That woman Nandini possesses some sort of magical power! Shiva-devotee Madurantakan fell into her snare and began to covet the throne. Kandhamaran, son of Sambuvarayar, took her letter and…” He has gone to meet Aditya Karikalan. Parthibendran, who was once the sworn enemy of the Pazhuvettaraiyars, has now become a slave to the Lady of Pazhuvoor. He has come forward to propose dividing the Chola kingdom into two—giving one part to Madurantakan and the other to Aditya Karikalan, thus settling the matter with a compromise…”

“What is this outrage! To even think of dividing the kingdom? This great empire, which our ancestors toiled so hard to unite and expand!”

“You would not wish to see the kingdom divided; nor would I, Mother! Had this idea been suggested ten days ago, Parthibendran himself would have risen in furious opposition. But now, he stands as the chief proponent of this arrangement…”

“What a marvel this is! What sort of magical power does that Lady of Pazhuvoor possess?”

“Princess! That is what I wished to ask you. Yet you are the one asking me. No matter; but tell me, on what grounds are you so certain that only Vandiyathevan will not fall under her spell?”

“Sir! If you ask the reason, I cannot explain it. They say the heart is its own witness. In my heart, I am absolutely certain that the valiant scion of the Vanar clan would never commit such treachery.”

“If that is so, let us put it to the test, Amma!”

“What sort of test?”

“We must immediately send a messenger to Kanchi. We must send an urgent letter to someone whom Aditya Karikalan trusts implicitly.”

“About what matter?”

“Just now, you called Nandini a venomous serpent and then apologized for it. In truth, she is a thousand times more dangerous than any serpent. She has plotted to utterly destroy the Chola dynasty, to uproot it and wipe it from the face of the earth.”

“Heavens! How dreadful!” exclaimed Kundavai, as her inner sea churned with countless waves of thought.

“She has incited the Sambuvarayars to invite your brother Aditya Karikalan to Kadambur palace. She is speaking of marrying the daughter of the Sambuvarayar and the daughter of the Pazhuvettaraiyar to Karikalan. The matter of dividing the kingdom and settling the dispute is also to be decided there.

“She is leaving, it seems. All these are open words. But what purpose she truly harbors in her heart—no one knows. Even I, who pride myself on knowing all, have not been able to discern her true intent.”

“What should we do about that, sir?”

“We must, by any means, prevent Aditya Karikalan from going to Kadambur Palace. For that, you and I must send a message to Vandiyathevan. If, against our wishes, Karikalan insists on leaving for Kadambur, Vandiyathevan must accompany him. Like an inseparable shadow, he must follow your brother and guard him. He must not allow any opportunity for Karikalan to meet Nandini alone…”

Kundavai let out a deep sigh; she realized how grave was the matter the Prime Minister was speaking of. She could not tell whether he spoke with full knowledge of all the details, or only from a standpoint of statecraft.

“Sir! Why do you consider it so important to prevent their meeting?” she asked.

“Dear lady! Some of Veerapandiyan’s loyal followers have sworn to destroy the Chola dynasty, root and branch. Fresh gold coins from Periya Pazhuvettarayar’s treasury are finding their way to them. Need I say more than this?”

“No need,” murmured Kundavai. The thought of the prince lying in the Chudamani Vihara with Surya flashed through her mind. Was not Ponniyin Selvan too surrounded by dangers?

“Sir! In these times, when peril after peril descends upon Chola Nadu, it is indeed our fortune that you are the Prime Minister! What arrangements have you made regarding my younger brother?” she asked.

“I have ordered that in every Shiva temple and Vishnu temple throughout Chola Nadu, prayers and special rituals be performed for the prince’s well-being. Likewise, prayers will be offered in the Buddhist viharas and Jain monasteries. At the Chudamani Vihara in Nagapattinam, the Buddhist monks are about to conduct a special mandala of prayers. What else would you have me do?” When the subject of the Chudamani