In the copper plates of Thiruvalangadu, where the lineage of the Chola dynasty is chronicled, it is written: “Desiring to behold the heavens, Adithan met his setting. The world was shrouded in the dark clouds of Kali!” Thus is inscribed the untimely death of the crown prince of the Chola Empire, the bravest of the brave, Aditya Karikalan, who fell by the hand of Veera Pandiyan.

At that moment, in the chamber of the Kadambur palace where Aditya Karikalan’s lifeless body lay, true darkness reigned.

Within the heart of Vallavarayan, who had been thrown to the floor with a thud by the man with the fearsome Kalamukha visage, a similar darkness had settled for a while. As light slowly began to dawn in his mind, as memory returned, his eyes fluttered open. Yet, because of the enveloping darkness around him, nothing came into focus. He could not discern where he was, nor in what state he lay.

The first sensation that struck him was the throbbing pain in his head. There was also pain at the spot on his neck where he had been gripped. He realized he was struggling to breathe. How had this pain in his head come about? What had caused the ache in his neck? Why was it so difficult to draw breath? Ah! That Kalamukhan! Had he truly seen him? Had the man truly tried to strangle him? Why had he tried to choke him? Was it to prevent him from making a sound? To stop him from moving further? Why? Why? Where had he been trying to go, breaking free from that iron grip? Ah! Now he remembered! To reach Aditya Karikalan! Alas! What had become of him? What had happened to Nandini? What did Ravidasan do? What could the Kalamukhan, who had thrown him to the ground to restrain him, have done next?… Where was he now? In an underground dungeon? In a secret tunnel? Vandiyathevan’s eyes darted wildly, trying to pierce the darkness all around. Nothing was visible! O God, could such utter darkness exist?… He remembered now—the place where he had fallen was Nandini’s inner chamber, near the hall of musical instruments. Was he still lying there? Or had they carried him elsewhere and left him? How was he to find out? He stretched out both hands and groped about. His fingers struck against an object. What was it? Did it not feel like a knife? Yes, it was a knife! A curved-bladed knife! Far more powerful than ordinary knives! If it were to strike anyone, that person would surely die! Where had he seen such a strange knife before? Where? In whose hand had he seen it?… One by one, all the events of that previous night returned to his memory! How had this knife come here? Oh! The blade is damp! How did it become wet? Was it water? No! Oil? That too, no! It must be blood! Alas! Whose blood? Could it be his own blood?

Vandiyathevan touched