For a while, Prince Karikalan was lost in thought. Waves of memories from his youth crashed and surged within his heart, rising tumultuously, then subsiding to make way for other recollections before fading away. Forcibly restraining those tides of memory, Karikalan let out a long, deep sigh.

“Let us not speak of what has passed now; let us talk about what is yet to come. That is why I called you here alone. We have lost the wager. The boar is gone. Now we must think and decide what to do next, and how to do it. Vallavaraiyan! When I think of how to speak to Nandini about the relationship between her and me, fear grips my heart. I cannot even bring myself to look straight at her face. Whenever I steal a glance at her, she wears the same expression she had when she pleaded for Veera Pandiyan’s life. Her gaze feels as if it cuts through my heart like a sword. The thought that my own sister, out of love for Veera Pandiyan, pleaded with me for his life—it makes my heart feel as if it will shatter. Vallavaraiyan! What do you think? Do you still believe she does not know the truth? Do you think she does not know that she is Sundara Chozhar’s daughter, and that she is our sister?”

“Prince! If she knew all this, would she still be allied with the conspirators of Pandya Nadu? Would she have enthroned a mere child as the king of Pandya Nadu and crowned him as the emperor of the Chola empire, in opposition to the Chola dynasty? Would she have sworn an oath, sword in hand, to uphold that crown? I myself witnessed all this near the Tiruppurambiyam battlefield, in the dead of night…”

“It amazes me that, after seeing all this, Nandini let you live.”

“My lord! I am not surprised by that; perhaps it was due to the natural compassion that dwells in a woman’s heart?”

“Vallavaraiyan! You are naïve to the ways of the world. You do not know the depth of deceit and treachery that can reside in a woman’s heart. I do not know with what intent she let you live. But as for why she sent for me—” “It is known only to my innermost self that she sent for me.”

“Prince! What could be the reason for that?”

“She summoned me here to kill me, to avenge Veera Pandiyan’s death with blood for blood…”

“Sir! It was precisely because they feared some such calamity might befall you that the Young Princess and the Prime Minister sent me in such haste. But you did not heed their warning not to go to Kadambur…”

“Vallavaraiya! The Young Princess and the Prime Minister are indeed very wise. But even they cannot prevent fate, can they? Perhaps fate itself has brought me here to fulfill all that the astrologers have foretold about Arulmozhi Varman. Who can say? Vallavaraiya! Kandanmaran shot that arrow from behind me, didn’t he? Did he truly aim at the bear, or did he aim at me? Did you notice?”

“I did not notice, sir! But I can never accept that Kandanmaran would commit such treachery. Would Kandanmaran, who welcomed a guest into his home—moreover, the Emperor’s own son—shoot an arrow from behind to kill him? I do not hold such a high opinion of his intelligence, it’s true. When he lay stabbed and unconscious, I carried him away and saved him. When he opened his eyes and saw me, he believed I was the one who stabbed him. His enmity towards me has not yet faded. But though his wits may be somewhat dull, he is not one with a treacherous mind!…”

“Friend! I do not know how powerful the enchantment of a beautiful woman can be. It can drive even the best of men to acts of betrayal…”

“Sir! I too have some knowledge of women’s enchanting power. But for that very reason, I will never become a traitor…”

“Ah! Manimekalai is a good woman; she would never urge you to commit a treacherous deed…”

“I was not speaking of Manimekalai; can a firefly ever appear as dazzling as the full moon to eyes that have seen the moon?”

“Whom do you mean by ‘the full moon’?”

“Prince! Do not be angry; I am speaking only of the younger princess of Pazhayarai…”

“Ah! You impudent talker! All the kings of the world are performing penance in hopes of winning Kundavai’s hand. How could you even dare to think of my sister in your heart?”

“Sir! Even the emperors of the earth gaze upon and enjoy the beauty and cool radiance of the full moon; yet it is the poor and humble who truly revel in its light. Who can prevent them?”

“Yes, there is no use in getting angry with you. I sent you to my sister with a letter precisely because I know your nature. And you behaved yourself to her satisfaction. But do not, under any circumstance, say such things to Parthibendran! He dreams of becoming the Chola dynasty’s son-in-law and reigning as king of Thondai Nadu…”

“Sir! That may have been true some time ago. But now both Kandhamaran and Parthibendran are waiting to do whatever Nandini Devi commands, even if it means bowing their heads to her feet…”

“I have noticed that; and that is why I am afraid when it comes to them.”

“When I consider everything, it seems necessary that you meet the young queen soon and reveal all truths to her.”

“My friend! I do not think I have the courage for that. What if you meet her and tell her everything on my behalf?”

“Prince! If I tell her, the young queen will not believe me. Once, I deceived her and escaped from her presence. She may think this is yet another scheme.”

“But how can I meet Nandini alone? She is within the inner chambers!”

“Sir! It is possible through