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 today, you spoke with me for so long this evening—why did you not say it then? Prime Minister! Now everything is clear to me. What the Pazhuvettarayars said is true—you are all conspiring against me!”

“It is true that we have conspired, but not against you. We only wished, by any means, to bring the Karaiyar maiden to you. Through the Maharani, I learned how deeply your heart grieved over her supposed death in the sea, and so I made this decision. The Maharani also commanded it thus. But bringing her here was no simple task. Had I told you she was alive, you would have found it hard to believe. Therefore, I resolved to tell you only after I had brought her to this city. Yesterday evening, after we had almost reached the gates of the fort, Mandakini Devi disappeared. In her place, this woman came in the palanquin. All day today, we have been searching for the Devi. My disciple saw her climb and leap over the wall of the Pazhuvoor palace gardens, and so he too climbed over the wall. But the Devi was not caught. Thirumalai was captured by the men of Pazhuvoor. Emperor! I beg you to pardon my disciple for this offense.”

“Is this even an offense to be pardoned? There are far greater matters! Tell me the rest!”

“After that, even though we waited until evening today, and searched within the fortress of Pazhuvoor, we could not find her. While you were resting a short while ago, all of us were in the next room, speaking about her alone. We were wondering where she might have hidden herself, and how, or who among us, should tell you all this. But somehow, she herself has come to your presence. It is as if a ripe fruit has slipped and fallen into milk!”

The Emperor then turned his gaze to where Mandakini Devi was seated. Kundavai, Poonguzhali, and the others were gently wiping the wound on that lady’s forehead with a damp cloth, and then applying a medicinal sandal paste upon it.

“Daughter of the Vidangar! Will you ask your aunt how she came by the wound on her forehead, and tell us?” he asked.

Poonguzhali stepped forward by two paces and said, “I asked her, my lord! But the reason my aunt gives is not clear to me…”

“What does she say? Does she claim the wound was caused by me throwing the lamp?”

“No, no! She says she struck her head against a rock on the hill and was wounded. She also says she did not notice the blood flowing…”

At that moment, Sundara Chozhar did something most unusual. He laughed aloud, a ringing, merry laugh! It had been many years since others had seen him laugh in such a manner. Again and again, he thought of it and laughed. Everyone began to look at him with concern.

“Chief Minister, why are you all staring at me so? I haven’t suddenly gone mad.