In the moonlit courtyard between the palace and the fortress wall, guided by Kandanmaran, Karikalan walked, glancing all around as he went. The other four followed close behind.

When they reached the spot where a stage and pavilion had been set up for the Kuravai dance, Karikalan halted.

“Oh! What is this? What is about to happen here?” he asked.

“Prince! If it pleases you, we thought to have a Kuravai dance performed here…”

“Ah! Excellent! Arrange for the Kuravai dance; arrange for the Villu Paatu as well. Stage the play of Karikal Valavan, the play of Vijayalaya Chozhar—stage them all! We shall spend our days hunting in the forests, and our nights in song and dance.

Sambuvaraiyar! Do you know what my grandfather Malayaman told me before I left? He warned me, ‘Do not sleep at night while you are in the palace of Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar!’ Do you know what I replied to my grandfather? ‘Grandfather! I do not sleep by day; nor do I sleep by night. It has been three years since I last slept. Therefore, you need not fear that my enemies will harm me while I sleep. Only if someone dares to harm me while I am awake, can they do so. Is there any man bold enough for that?’ Thus, I gave courage to Malayaman before I left!” Karikalan finished, and laughed aloud, his laughter ringing out.

Sambuvaraiyar, his voice trembling with anger, said, “Sir! Whether you sleep or stay awake… no one would dare to harm you while you are in this palace!”

“Yes, yes! Who could possibly harm me within the palace of Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar? Or who could cross these massive fortress walls from outside? Not even Yama himself could enter. Would not even Yama fear Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar? I told you about that old man of Thirukovalur and his needless worries. Is it not just old age? For some, courage wanes as the years advance. But look at my Pazhuvur grandfather! See how briskly he walks! Could anyone believe he is past sixty?” Karikalan said, with a slight, mocking smile. Pazhuvetaraiyar, thinking that he must give some reply to this, cleared his throat. The sound echoed like a lion’s roar.

“Behold! How true it is when people say, ‘If the great Pazhuvetaraiyar clears his throat, the whole world trembles!’ Kandhamaaran! Vandiyathevan! Parthibendran! Think for a moment—will you all be as sturdy as the old lord of Pazhuvur when you reach his age? Perhaps you may clear your throats like him, but at his age, you will not bring a new bride into the women’s quarters! Grandfather! It seems you have brought the young queen along with you! I saw her on the front verandah balcony! How did the young queen travel? In a closed palanquin? In a chariot? Or in a cart?”

Pazhuvetaraiyar interrupted at that moment and said with pride, “I brought her on an elephant, seated in a howdah, for all the towns and villages to see!”

“That is how