As soon as the subject of the underground prison was mentioned, old memories flooded the mind of the Younger Pazhuvettaraiyar. Forgetting the formalities of customary speech, he said, “Yes; you have been to the underground prison once. You went with the Young Princess. Was it not to find out information about a spy who had escaped after coming to gather intelligence?”

“No, sir! What you say is not correct. We did not go to the underground prison that day to find out about the spy. We went to learn about the messenger whom Prince Aditya Karikalan had sent with a palm-leaf letter.”

“That may have been what you thought. But how do you know whether he was a spy or a messenger? You are just a young girl who knows nothing. There is no use debating this with you. The fact is, you went there! Did you find out anything about him?”

“No, the one we went to see managed to escape without even your knowledge. The command of the Young Queen of Pazhuvoor, Nandini Devi, overtook us. Alas! What could you have done?”

The Younger Pazhuvettaraiyar bit his lips. Was it not because his elder brother had given too much importance to the Young Queen, disregarding his own warnings, that even young women like this had begun to speak so boldly? Though a sense of shame arose within him at this thought, he did not show it outwardly. Instead, he said, “And for your part, you released a half-madman!”

“Sir! You mean Sendhan Amudhan, who is now performing flower service? If you knew how much good has come to the Chola land because we released him that day, you would be astonished!”

“Girl! Nothing can astonish me anymore. I am tired of being surprised at how many people this Chola kingdom is indebted to. Even you, I suppose, have come here now to do some great good for the Chola country?”

“Yes, sir! If it were not for an important matter, would your elder brother have sent me? And would he have sent me, an innocent, ignorant girl?”

“My elder brother’s cleverness seems to be ever increasing. It is evident from the fact that he sent you. Quickly tell me the message you have brought!”

“He asked me to tell you that it was a mistake to be careless about the Pandya country conspirators. Some of Veera Pandiyan’s sworn followers are indeed hatching a terrible plot; they have set a date to take revenge on the Chola dynasty. He asked me to warn you to keep the Emperor safe at all costs…”

Hearing this, Kalandhaga Kandar laughed. “Is this the grave news he sent you to deliver? For a moment, I thought perhaps you had come to inform me that your great father is marching here with his army. If he is watching the Kodumbalur forces from outside, I am watching over the Emperor inside the fort to ensure nothing befalls him. Neither he, nor you, nor even the