As soon as they reached the front hall, Sambuvaraiyar called Kandhamaaran aside and said, “My son! A danger that has never before befallen our clan has come upon us today. If we are to escape from it, you must do exactly as I say, without hesitation or objection.”

The death of Karikalan had shaken Kandhamaaran deeply. He now realized how grave a mistake it had been to wish for the death of Vandiyathevan. “Father! It is because of my own foolishness that this calamity has come upon our family. Please forgive me for that. Whatever command you give, I shall carry it out without fail,” he replied.

“You must, without anyone’s knowledge, leave this palace at once. You know, do you not, that there is a secret passage leading from beneath the bed in my chamber? That tunnel connects with the passage from the hunting pavilion and runs along the base of the palace wall…”

“Father! In this dire situation, do you ask me to escape through the secret way, leaving you here alone?” asked Kandhamaaran.

“My child! Have you already forgotten your promise? Yes, you must go. Now, you alone remain of the valiant line of Kollimalai’s lord, Valvil Oari. If need be, you must go to those hills and live in hiding. Only after it is certain that Madurantaka Devar is crowned and I send you word, should you return!” said Sambuvaraiyar.

“Forgive me, Father! I cannot bear to live in hiding. Must the noble house of Valvil Oari be stained by the infamy of having begotten such a coward? If you command me to give up my life this very instant, I shall do so. But I will never agree to live in concealment!” declared Kandhamaaran.

Sambuvaraiyar pondered for a moment and then said, “My son! I only spoke thus to test you. You do not wish to flee or hide. Good. Then I shall send you on a mission that may well threaten your life. Leave at once through the secret passage! But do not go to Kollimalai! Go straight to Thanjavur! Most likely, Periya Pazhuvetaraiyar will be there. If he is, tell him all that has happened here. If not, tell Chinna Pazhuvetaraiyar and Madurantaka Devar…”

“Sir! Let them tell what has happened here!”

“What sort of question is that? Speak of Karikalan’s death! Tell them, ‘The deed we intended has, by the force of fate, taken another turn; Karikalan is dead! This is the right time to crown Madurantakan!’ Let them know! Say, ‘The Malayaman and the Kodumbalur Velan will stand in the way of this. We must immediately gather all our strength and utterly destroy those two!’” said Sambuvaraiyar.

“If they ask how Karikalan died, what should I say?” asked Kandanmaran.

“What else is there to say? Say that Vandiyathevan of the Vanar clan killed him! There is another important matter. Remember this well! Vandiyathevan has gone to Eezha Nadu and returned. There, he met Arulmozhi Deva, and later, at Pazhayarai, he saw the Young Princess. News has come that Arulmozhi Deva, who was hiding in Nagapattinam, has now come out into the open. We must spread the rumor throughout Chola Nadu that Arulmozhi Deva, out of a desire for the throne, sent Vandiyathevan to kill his elder brother. We must also sow suspicion that the Young Princess of Pazhayarai is complicit in this. Tell all this to the Pazhuvettaraiyars and to Lord Madurantaka as well!...

“Father, what if what you say is actually true? Could not Vandiyathevan, the traitor to friendship, have come to this palace with such a dreadful intention?”

“It is possible, my son! But we must also find out the reason for the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the Younger Queen of Pazhuvoor, must we not? Vandiyathevan is accusing her, and the Pandya assassins who aided her, of being involved!”

“The one who commits the crime will always try to lay the blame on others. Now I understand everything. Father! The Young Princess of Pazhuvoor has never liked Kundavai Devi of Pazhayarai. After killing Karikalan, she must have arranged to abduct the Young Queen of Pazhuvoor at the same time. Chief Minister Aniruddha also seems to be complicit in this. That is why they sent this Vandiyathevan! Alas! Have we been ruined by failing to see through their conspiracy?”

“Kandamaaran! There is no use lamenting over what has already happened. We must look to what must be done next. You must set out at once! Before the news of Karikalan’s death reaches Sundara Chozhar, before anyone else in Thanjai hears of it, the Pazhuvettarayar brothers and Madurantakan must be informed. Therefore, you must hurry! You know, do you not, that there is a secret tunnel leading into the Thanjai fortress?”

“I know, I know!”

“In that case, depart at once!”

“I am leaving, Father! Only, I am a little worried about my sister, Manimekalai…”

“You need not trouble yourself with that! I will not let her babble to anyone else as she did to us. If she so much as tries to utter a word, I will kill her with my own hands…”

“Alas, that is exactly why I am anxious. It is your anger that frightens me…”

“No need! I know how to change her mind! Ah, fate is indeed strange! At first, we thought to wed her to Prince Madurandaka. Then, changing our minds, we planned to give her in marriage to Karikalan. Today, Karikalan lies a corpse. It is fortunate that Manimekalai’s heart did not incline toward him. We must now carry out our original plan…”

“But, Father! It seems now that Manimekalai’s heart has turned toward that outcaste Vandiyathevan.”

“That is nothing, my son! Manimekalai is not yet of an age to truly know her own mind. I will take care of her. You must not delay here even for a moment longer!”

At that moment, Kandamaaran heard a commotion rising very close outside the fortress walls. “Father! What is this? It seems as if