After witnessing Kundavai’s tears, Vanathi too began to sob uncontrollably. Even the iron heart of Aniruddha Brahmarayar, who had seen countless joys and sorrows in this world, softened at the sight.

“Mother! The one truly responsible for all the hardships the Emperor now endures is this sinner before you. I do not know what penance I must perform to atone for my sins!” he said.

“Sir! There is nothing you do not know. Yet, let me tell you what I know. That Karaiyar’s daughter is not dead. She is alive. If you inform my father of this, his suffering will end and peace will return to his heart. I came to you for this very reason—to ask you to arrange, by any means, to bring my elder sister here. But you have already taken steps towards this!” said the young princess.

“Yes, child! I too had come to the same conclusion. I have decided to inform the Emperor that Mandakini Devi is alive. But if I simply tell him, he will not believe me. How can I convince him that what I said before was a lie, and what I say now is the truth? That is why I thought to bring that lady here first, and then reveal the truth. If he sees her with his own eyes, he will have no choice but to believe. For this very reason, I traveled to the island of Lanka. But the Pazhuvettaraiyars have told the Emperor that I went to Eezha Nadu to conspire with your brother and Periya Velar. To prove that this is not the case, I am determined to bring Mandakini Devi before your father,” said Aniruddhar.

“Sir! If you suddenly bring her before him like that, it might cause harm to my father. He must be informed beforehand, and only then should he be allowed to see her!” said the young princess.

“Yes, yes, that is exactly what I intend to do. I thought I would inform him once Mandakini Devi arrived at this house. I had planned to go to the palace this morning. But before I could, the daughter of Thyagavidangar interfered and caused me disappointment. One day, I will mete out fitting punishment to that wicked woman!” declared the Chief Minister. “Ayyo! Please, do not do anything like that. I do not know whether she is a good woman or a wicked one. But wasn’t it Poonguzhali who saved Arulmozhi from drowning in the sea?”

“Say that God saved him, Mother! The Lord who reclines upon the ocean of milk protected him. Without His grace, what could this young woman have done? If astrology is true, if the effects of the planets and the movements of the stars are real, then neither sea nor fire nor storm nor earthquake can harm the prince…”

“Nothing happens without the Lord’s grace, that is true. But does not the Lord’s power work through human beings? I have decided to send Poonguzhali back to Nagapattinam, sir! Or, if you think otherwise—if you believe it is better to bring Arulmozhi here openly…”

“No, Mother! No! Until it is certain who will ascend the throne, it is best that the people do not know about Arulmozhivarman’s whereabouts. I intend to ask your father for a final decision today. If it is decided that the crown will go to Madurantaka, then it would be best to send your younger brother back to Eezha Nadu. As long as Arulmozhivarman is here, the people of Chola Nadu will never agree to crown Madurantaka. The Chola land will be filled with great battles; the rivers of Chola Nadu will run red with blood…”

“Sir! In that case, is it not best to send Poonguzhali and Sendhan Amudhan back to Nagapattinam as well?”

“That is best. If the Emperor wishes, Arulmozhivarman may come to Thanjavur in secret just once and then return!”

“Yes, yes! Only when he sees with his own eyes that Mandakini Devi and Arulmozhi are alive will the Emperor’s heart find peace.”

“Your father has no worry about the elder prince, does he?”

“None at all; the Emperor believes there is no one in this world who can bring harm to Aditya Karikalan. What do you think, sir?”

“I do not have such confidence. On the battlefield, the elder prince is a peerless hero. But in other places, it is not so difficult to deceive or betray him. The Pazhuvettaraiyars are his enemies. The younger queen of Pazhuvur—”

She is weaving some terrible secret conspiracy against him. I sent both these pieces of news to Karikalan through my disciple. Yet, it bore no fruit. No matter how many times we urged him to come to Thanjavur, he refused. But now, he has gone to the Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar’s palace…”

“Sir! I have sent word to my brother that the younger queen of Pazhuvur might be our own sister. I also sent a message to the brave warrior of the Vanar clan to protect him closely. Ah! If only Vallavaraiyar were here now, we could have sent him to Nagapattinam…”

“To ensure that boy does not fall into any trouble, I too have sent my disciple. Even now, if you send Poonguzhali, I intend to send Thirumalai along with her.”

“Those who went have not yet returned, have they? If my grandaunt arrives, three-quarters of the burden on my heart will be lifted, sir! As soon as she comes, you will meet my father and tell him everything, won’t you? I must tell my mother the whole story from the beginning…”

“Ah! How many sorrows must the daughter of Malayaman bear! And when the old lord of Thirukovalur learns of all this, what will he do? If he finds out that his grandchildren have not been crowned, perhaps Malayaman himself will rise up and threaten to destroy this very land…”

“Leave the task of pacifying my grandfather to me. It is this girl Vanathi’s elder father who worries me. He seems to desire that