After carefully surveying all four directions, Ravidasan pointed to the open door of the moonlit chamber and instructed Soman Sambavan to go inside.

“At first, your eyes won’t see anything in the darkness, so don’t stand near the door! Go a little further in and stand there!” he said.

As soon as Soman Sambavan entered the moonlit chamber, it was as if the darkness had swallowed him whole. Then, Ravidasan turned back along the walkway and made his way to Nandini Devi’s Vasantha Mandapam. From there, he kept watch on the entrance of the Pazhuvettaraiyar palace. If anyone besides the old nurse happened to come, he might have to rush into the moonlit chamber and bolt the door from inside—wouldn’t that be necessary?

While Ravidasan stood thus in the Vasantha Mandapam, his eyes fixed on the palace entrance, Mandakini glided silently toward the open moonlit chamber and entered. For one accustomed to spending countless nights in the depths of dense forests, what fear could the darkness of that chamber hold? Within a few moments, her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom. She saw the man who had come with Ravidasan stumbling against a pillar some distance away. She moved in the opposite direction. There, she found a staircase. The path from the moonlit chamber descended below. She went down the steps and stood at the bottom.

Soman Sambavan must have heard some faint sound. “Who’s there? Who’s there?” he called out. His voice, traveling through the open doorway, reached Ravidasan’s ears faintly. At that very moment, Ravidasan saw the old nurse approaching the palace entrance, a lamp in her hand. He hurried forward, intent on warning Soman Sambavan. Entering the vestibule of the moonlit chamber, he called out, “Sambava! Where are you? Did you call me?”

“Yes, I called you!”

“Was it so urgent? What if someone outside heard your voice? Do you think I’d just leave you here and walk away?”

“No, no! I called you to ask something,” said Soman Sambavan, moving closer to Ravidasan. At that moment, a bright light appeared at the entrance of the moon chamber.

“Oh no! That woman has come with the lamp; she will see you. Go! Go! Move away and stand behind the pillar! Quickly!” whispered Ravidasan.

Soman Sambavan hurriedly retreated. The next instant, the nurse stood at the doorway of the moon chamber, holding a lamp in her hand.

“Sorcerer! Sorcerer! Where have you gone?” she called.

“I haven’t gone anywhere; I was waiting here for you,” said Ravidasan, approaching her and taking the lamp from her hand.

“Girl! Lock the door from outside. Come back in exactly one naazhikai with the key! Knock on the door; if I give the signal, open it! Make sure no one is around when you open it!” Ravidasan instructed.

“Very well, sorcerer! But I warn you—Chinna Pazhuvettarayar has grown suspicious about something. If you get caught, don’t give me away!” pleaded the nurse.

“Woman! Don’t worry needlessly! Didn’t I tell you? Even Kaalandhakakandan’s