During the first part of the journey from Kadambur to Thanjavur, Vandiyathevan was, for the most part, in a state of unconsciousness. He had been bound and placed in a wooden cart. The smoke and fire from the night when Karikalan lost his life had tormented him greatly. Whenever he regained a little awareness during the journey, the burning in his eyes and the pain in his body caused him unbearable agony. In that half-conscious state, terrifying visions appeared before him and tormented his mind.

The head of Veera Pandiyan alone would come close to his face and say, “Hey! Is it you who stands in the way of my vengeance?”—and then glare at him in anger. Sometimes, Nandini would stand before him, adorned in jewels and finery, smiling sweetly, trying to ensnare him in her web of illusion. At other times, she would appear disheveled, weeping and lamenting. In yet another vision, she would take on a ghostly form and laugh menacingly.

A shadowy figure, following Aditya Karikalan, would approach with a dagger in hand. Whenever Vandiyathevan tried to leap forward to stop it, another monstrous shadow would come from behind and seize him by the neck, choking him. Ravidasan and his companions would then lift him and throw him into a blazing fire. As his body burned, Kandanmaran would look at him and say, “Hey, traitor to friendship! You deserve this!” Parthibendran would look at him too and ask, “Hey! Has your marriage to the young princess Kundavai been fixed? When is the auspicious day?”—and then laugh thunderously.

Sendhan Amudhan would come running from somewhere to rescue him from the fire. Pinagapani, the physician’s son, would hide behind a tree and strike Sendhan Amudhan on the head with a heavy stick.

As his entire body burned, Vandiyathevan was seized by an unbearable thirst. He wanted to cry out, “Water! Water!” but no sound emerged. His throat was parched, his tongue swollen and stuck to his palate, rendering him speechless. In this state, Manimekalai appeared, carrying divine nectar in a golden goblet, and poured it into his mouth. Before he could even think to thank her, she vanished into the darkness!… Ah, for her love, one could offer all three worlds in return! But what folly it is to think of giving Manimekalai the three worlds, when he did not even possess a span of land to call his own? Look, there is Poonguzhali! “See my lovers!” she says, pointing out the fire-mouthed demons. What a wondrous woman she is! “Why do you wander in this earthly realm? Come, I will take you to the golden world!” she calls.

“You mean the world where Ponniyin Selvan dwells?” asks Vandiyathevan. At once, the fire-mouthed demons gather from all directions and surround him. Vandiyathevan, seized by fear, closes his eyes. The demons bind him, lift him up, carry him away, climb the sandy mound of the riverbank, and roll him down…

Vandiyathevan starts and opens his eyes in alarm. He realizes that guards holding torches have placed him in a boat. He does not know which river this is—perhaps the Kollidam, or the Kaveri, or the Kudamurutti… Even as he wonders, darkness falls again, clouding his senses.

After countless such bewildering experiences, suddenly he hears a sound like the roaring of seven seas in turmoil. A great wave crashes over him, submerging him. Now, with full awareness, Vandiyathevan opens his eyes. Not far ahead, he sees the gates of Thanjavur fort. Bound and lying on a wooden cart, he sees before and behind him, and on all sides, a sea of people. The tumultuous cry of that multitude is what had seemed to him like the roaring of seven seas. He realizes that such a crowd has gathered because the final procession of Aditya Karikalan is approaching the Thanjai fort.

Soon, the entire crowd disperses from that place. Only he, Sambuvarayar, and a few guards remain, and they are led into the Thanjai fort. Ah! When the final rites of that great warrior are performed, he, who was once the prince’s closest companion, cannot even be near. Is this the extent of his misfortune? After all his efforts to protect the prince’s life till the very end, and failing, he is now accused of murdering him! It was he who ensured that the prince’s body, instead of being consumed by the fire at Kadambur palace, received the honors due to a great hero, with the homage of a vast multitude.

Yet now, he is being taken to the underground prison where murderers and traitors are confined. What does it matter if he is taken there? Soon, the young princess and Ponniyin Selvan will inquire about him. When they learn he has been imprisoned, they will be alarmed. Immediately, the prison’s… They would come running with the key and set him free. Even if he had failed to save Karikalan’s life, they would come to know of all the efforts he had made on his behalf and praise him for it...

But would they truly praise him? Would they even remember him? Those who had lost their brother—wouldn’t they, in that grief, forget everything else? Even if he declared his innocence, would they believe him? And even if they believed, would they ever again show him the same friendship and affection as before?

As he was led through the gold coin mint towards the underground prison, Vandiyathevan’s hope dwindled with every step. Chinna Pazhuvettarayar had already closed the mint not long before. Along that path, only a few guards stood here and there. They did not wear the swords engraved with the palmyra emblem. The old jailers of Kodumbalur Velar had all been dismissed, and new guards, loyal to Pazhuvettarayar, had been stationed there. The two new prisoners were eyed with suspicion and hostility. Vandiyathevan overheard them whispering to each other, “That one is Kadambur Sambuvaraiyan; this one is Vandiyathevan of the Vanar clan—the scoundrels who killed the prince.”

As they were