Nandini took the sword that the boy, who was called the Emperor, handed to her. She pressed it to her chest and embraced it. Then she lifted the boy himself, and, drawing him close, hugged him tightly to her bosom. Tears streamed down from her eyes in torrents.

For a while, the others stood transfixed, watching this scene in astonishment.

Ravidasan was the first to recover from his shock and spoke.

“Devi! The Emperor has not fully understood our request. Without comprehending, he has given you the sword. Let me explain it to him again, more clearly—”

Nandini stopped him; her voice trembled as she spoke. “No, sir, no! The Emperor gave me the sword fully understanding what it means. Do not be disturbed by my tears. I weep not from sorrow, but from overwhelming joy at having received the fortune of avenging the murder of Veerapandiyan, the Emperor!”

“Devi! Think about it! While we, the band of desperate warriors, are still alive—” Soman Sambavan began, but Nandini cut him off.

“There is nothing to think about. That responsibility is mine alone. You will not be without your own tasks. Half of you must safely escort the Emperor to the Panchapandava Hills. The rest of you, come to Kadambur. Those who can enter the Samburayar palace, come inside; the others, wait outside, ready and alert. Wait with swift horses. Once the deed is done, if possible, all of us must escape alive, must we not?” said Nandini.

Ravidasan stepped forward. “Ammani! I forgot to mention something; grant me leave to say it now.”

“Speak, sir! Speak quickly! Pazhuvetarayar has gone to the grand assembly of the Kalamukhas on the banks of the Kollidam. I must reach the palace before he returns!” said Nandini.

“You said our chief enemy, Aditya Karikalan, would come to Kadambur Samburayar’s palace, did you not? That is not entirely certain,” he said. “For what reason do you say so?”

“I say it for a fitting reason. A message is being sent to Aditya Karikalan, forbidding him from coming to Kadambur Palace under any circumstances. The Young Princess of Pazhayarai and Prime Minister Aniruddha have both sent such word…”

“Did you think I was unaware of this?”

“Even knowing it, do you still expect him to come to Kadambur?”

“Yes; I certainly expect it. The nature of Aditya Karikalan is unknown to that Pazhayarai she-serpent; unknown to the demon of love; and even you, skilled in the arts of magical sorcery, do not know it. If anyone forbids Aditya Karikalan from doing something, that is the very thing he will surely do. I know this; I know it for certain. Aditya Karikalan is not a gullible child like Arulmozhi Varman. He is not a fearful fool like Madurantaka. Precisely because his sister and the Prime Minister have sent word forbidding him from coming to Kadambur, Aditya Karikalan will most assuredly come here!”

Thus spoke Nandini.

“Devi! You must not place your full trust in that either. The