Part Three – The Sword of Slaughter

While the prince and Princess Kundavai sat conversing in the Nandi Mandapam— while Vanathi stood by the pillar, listening— an important conversation was taking place in the boat waiting in the canal, between Poonguzhali and Sendhan Amudhan.

“Amudha! I am going to ask you something. Will you answer me truthfully?” asked Poonguzhali.

“Poonguzhali, nothing but the truth ever passes my lips! That is why, these past few days, I have not seen or spoken to anyone,” replied Amudhan.

“For some people, truth never comes to their lips. That Vandiyathevan, who took the letter to the prince and went to Lanka—he is such a person.”

“Even so, he is a very good man. He has never lied to harm anyone.”

“He said something about you. I want to know if it is true or false…”

“He has no reason to say anything untrue about me. Still, tell me what he said!”

“He said you spoke very highly of me.”

“That is entirely true.”

“He said you have affection for me, that you wish to marry me…”

“Did he truly say that?”

“Yes, Amudha!”

“I must thank him for that.”

“For what?”

“I would never have had the courage to open my heart to you myself; I could not have found such boldness. He spoke on my behalf to you, did he not? For that, I must thank him.”

“If that is so, then what he said is true?”

“It is true, Poonguzhali! There is no doubt about it.”

“Why did you come to desire me, Amudha?”

“Can anyone ever explain the reason for love?”

“I will think and tell you. Could there be no reason at all?”

“No one in this world has ever discovered or explained why or how love arises, Poonguzhali!”

“Don’t people desire each other upon seeing beauty?”

“Yes, people do desire beauty; they may even feel infatuation. But that cannot be called true love, nor does it last. Just now, you spoke of Vandiyathevan—he became fond of me the moment he saw me. I was ready to give my life for him. Did he become attached to me because of my beauty?”

“But your friend described my beauty at great length, didn’t he?”

“He did praise your beauty. But he did not desire you. He praised the beauty of the Pazhuvoor queen a hundred times more, but he did not love her.”

“I know the reason for that.”

“What is it?”

“That warrior’s heart has already gone to the young princess who is speaking with the prince over there. That is the reason.”

“Doesn’t this show that there is no connection between beauty and love?”

“How does it happen, then? Are you saying I am more beautiful than the young princess?”

“What doubt is there in that, Poonguzhali! Compared to the junior princess of Pazhaiyarai, compared to the princess of Kodumbalur standing behind that pillar, you are many times more beautiful. Even the beauty of the junior queen of Pazhuvoor,