Those who had tied Vandiyathevan to the tailless monkey now bound Manimekalai near him, fastening her to the antlers of a stag mounted on the wall.

“Sorcerer! I am your enemy—why do you bind the Princess of Kadambur? Let her go!” cried Vandiyathevan.

Ravidasan looked at him and said, “Patience, brother, patience! Many times you have interfered in our affairs. Each time, we have spared your life. Yet you have not ceased to follow us!”

Vandiyathevan laughed.

“What is so amusing? Does the embrace of a tailless monkey delight you so much?” asked Ravidasan.

“No! I was only laughing at what you just said,” replied Vallavarayan.

“And what, in what I said, makes you laugh so?”

“You said that I keep following you. Could it not be said that you are the ones who keep following me? That you are the ones interfering in my business? Look now! I was taking the Princess of Kadambur with me on an important mission. You interfered and tied me up with this monkey!”

“Oh! Is that the truth of it? Very well, then. Consider that we are the ones interfering in your affairs. But let me tell you—this will be the last time such a thing happens. If you escape with your life today, you will never see us again!”

“In that case, I must do my best to stay alive! Sorcerer! Teach me a trick so that I might escape with my life!” said Vandiyathevan.

“I shall indeed teach you. Whatever happens in this hall, or in the next room, just watch quietly! Do not act rashly! Your life will not be in danger.”

“Why do you have such affection for me? Why do you let me live instead of killing me?”

“Listen to that! Yes, it is utter foolishness! But it is the command of our Devi!”

“Who is your Devi?”

“Do you still not know? It is Pandimadevi. The heroic consort of the Pandya Emperor, Nandini Devi, who now resides in the house of Periya Pazhuvetaraiyar!”

“A fine heroic consort, indeed!”

“Shame on you! You wicked boy! If you utter a single word against our Devi, you will lose your life! Beware!”

“Is it not you who are slandering the Queen of Pazhuvur? You call a woman who lives in another man’s house the consort of Veerapandiyan?”

“So what? Was not Sita, the wife of Rama, for a time in the house of Ravana?”

“But Rama went and brought back Sita Devi, did he not?”

“We too have come to take back our Pandima Devi. Whatever reason she had for imprisoning herself in the palace at Pazhuvur, that ends today…”

“Ah! And what is that reason?”

“Wait a little while with patience! You will know for yourself. If you show your wickedness, not only you, but this woman too will meet a terrible fate!”

Saying this, Ravidasan made to move toward the opposite wall.

“Magician! Tell me just one more thing before you go!” said Vandiyathevan.

Ravidasan turned and said, “Young man! Do not call me ‘magician’ again!”

“Then, how should I address you?”

“You must address me respectfully as the Chief Minister!”

“Sir! Of which great kingdom are you the Chief Minister?”

“Do you not know? Of the Pandya Mahasamrajyam! Did you not witness the coronation ceremony held near the Pallipadai?”

“I did witness it. But I thought it was some delusion of my mind…”

“Is that why you haven’t spoken of it to anyone?”

“I told a couple of people; they called me a madman. They said I must have had some dreadful nightmare…”

“Ah! Let them go on thinking that way. Even we spared your life only because we were sure no one would believe you if you spoke of it outside!”

“Sorcerer! Is that the only reason you let me live?”

“What else?”

“Didn’t your queen intercede on my behalf?”

“So what if she did?”

“Even now, I can count on her recommendation.”

“Wait until you receive it!”

“Sorcerer, your queen sent this Kadambur princess to summon me here in haste. That’s why the two of us have come together…”

“My lord! There are other ways to reach the queen’s chambers! Why would you come by this path?”

“I don’t need to explain that to you. If the queen asks, I will tell her…”

“Wait until the queen comes and asks you herself!”

“Sorcerer! Tell them to untie me and the daughter of Sambuvarayar at once! Otherwise…”

“What will you do?”

“I will shout so loudly that this hall will tremble!”

“The moment you raise your voice, three spears will strike you at once—beware!”

Vandiyathevan looked around keenly.

Yes; three conspirators stood ready, each with a spear in hand.

“Thambi! You are a very cunning fellow. There was a time when I even wished to have you join us. But you have fallen into the snare of that Pazhayarai enchantress. Let that be. Now, act wisely! If you make a sound, your death is certain!” Thus warning him, Ravidasan turned toward the elephant’s head that was fixed to the opposite wall. For a moment, he pressed his ear to the wall and listened. Then, grasping the long tusks of the elephant, he twisted them. A small opening appeared. The bright light of the lamps burning in the inner chamber streamed through, illuminating the hunting hall with a silvery glow, like the full moon’s beams.

Vandiyathevan turned to the side and saw that Princess Manimekalai had taken the small knife tucked at her waist and cut through the ropes that bound her.

The small lamp Manimekalai had taken from Idumbankari burned with a faint, flickering light in one corner of the hunting hall. Its glow did not fall upon Manimekalai. Moreover, since the conspirators were all focused on Vandiyathevan, none paid any attention to the Kadambur princess. Vandiyathevan noticed that Manimekalai had freed herself from her bonds. At once, he pursed his lips and let out a cry like an owl.

At first, the three conspirators stood