Azhwarkkadiyan and Poonguzhali sat beneath a tree at the foot of the hill.

“Girl! The task for which I came is done. Shall we depart?” asked Azhwarkkadiyan.

“Vaishnavite! If your purpose is fulfilled, you may go. But the task for which I came is not yet complete!” replied Poonguzhali.

“For what purpose have you come?”

“I came seeking the murderer who killed my aunt.”

“Haven’t you found him? Isn’t he among that band of conspirators over there?”

“He is.”

“Then what?”

“Did I come merely to see him and earn some merit by his sight? I came to repay murder with murder, to avenge blood with blood.”

“Poonguzhali! Who are we to punish those who have committed crimes? There is God for that!”

“Is there a God? Even if there is, does He punish the treacherous deeds of men? I have my doubts.”

“Let us leave God aside. In this world, the responsibility of punishing wrongdoers belongs to kings. It is the duty of the officials appointed by the rulers.”

“And if the kings and their officials do not carry out their duties properly?”

“How can we decide that they have not done so?”

“Vaishnavite! Among those criminals, one threw a spear from the upper storey and killed my aunt, who was the very embodiment of love. She could not speak, she never harbored ill-will towards anyone, she was a poor, unfortunate, simple woman all her life—yet he killed her. The Emperor, his queens, and even Chinna Pazhuvettarayar, the commander of the Thanjai fort, were all watching. Yet they let him escape…”

“Poonguzhali! Did they not make any attempt to capture Soman Sambavan?”

“All his life, the Emperor who had rejected my aunt now held her upon his lap and wept. All the others stood around, struck dumb with astonishment. When I declared, ‘I will follow the murderer,’ even Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar rose and came with me. But in the underground passage, he was forced to turn back.”

“What happened?”

“As we made our way through the tunnel, he and I, a cry rang out in the darkness. Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar leapt toward the source of the voice and seized the person lurking there. ‘Here! The murderer is caught!’ came a shout. ‘No, no! I did not commit the murder!’ came another voice. The moment Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar recognized to whom that voice belonged, he was thunderstruck. ‘Alas! Why have you come here?’ he asked. ‘I came to see if the treasure is safe,’ replied the voice from the shadows. ‘Oh, heavens! If anyone sees you here, what will they think? Will they not believe you tried to kill the Emperor?’ cried Kaalandhaka Kandar. ‘Is the Emperor dead?’ asked the beloved son-in-law of Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, Madurantaka Devar, with anxious urgency. ‘Foolish child! Come with me! Come, before anyone sees you!’ said Kaalandhaka Kandar, seizing his son-in-law by the hand and leading him away. Afterwards, I alone continued to follow the murderer. Now, after coming all this way with such effort, do you ask