When Kundavai came near, Mandakini gazed at her intently for a moment. Then, the Young Princess did something no one expected. She knelt down, touched Mandakini’s feet, and prostrated herself in full obeisance. Tears welled up in Mandakini’s eyes. She bent down, lifted Kundavai, and embraced her. Then, the princess entwined her arm with Mandakini’s, holding her close, and together they walked toward the place where the Emperor lay.

Only now did the Empress look closely at Mandakini’s face. She saw blood trickling down from her forehead.

“Swami! Was it you who threw the lamp and injured her? Oh no! What have you done?” cried the daughter of Malayaman in distress.

“No, no! The lamp I threw did not fall on her. She was already standing there with a bleeding wound before that. But this wretch—she will surely blame me! And you will believe her. All of you are on her side. Daughter of Malayaman! Even you pity her? Do you know who she is?” asked Sundara Chozhar.

“I do, Swami! She is my clan’s guardian deity—the deity of the entire Chola lineage. Was she not the goddess who saved my beloved son from drowning in the Kaveri?”

“Ah! Even you believe such things? Did Kundavai perhaps tell you so?”

“I speak only of what I saw with my own eyes. Kundavai was a child then—what could she have known? Not only did she save Arulmozhi, but she is the deity who saved the very life of the Chola land! Was she not the one who protected you from becoming prey to the wild bear on the island of Boothath?”

“Heavens! Even that you know? Do you know that she has been alive all these years?”

“I have known for some time. From the moment I learned of it, I have been urging the Prime Minister to bring this goddess here from Eezha Nadu…” “Aniruddha! What is this the Maharani is saying? Is this woman truly the daughter of the Karaiyar? Is she really alive? Was it a lie that she had died? Was it all an illusion when I thought her spirit was haunting me? My mind is already confused. Do not all of you together drive me completely mad!” said Emperor Sundara Chozhar.

“Lord! It is true that she is the daughter of the Karaiyar. It is also true that she is not dead. Emperor! I am a great offender. There is no forgiveness for the crime I have committed, yet by your grace…”

“Prime Minister! Now I understand. The woman you forcibly brought from Kodikkarai is this very one! It was not true when you said the woman in the palanquin was that boatwoman!”

“King of kings! You must forgive this humble servant!”

“Ah! He asks for forgiveness! Since the dawn of this world, never has one called Emperor, King of kings, been deceived as I have been. Why did you have to do this without my knowledge? Why could you not have told me beforehand? Even