When Ponniyin Selvan, Princess Kundavai, and the others descended into the underground prison, they found that Vandiyathevan was nowhere to be seen. In his place, they saw Pinagapani, the physician’s son. Pinagapani had been bound to the iron rings fixed to the wall.

“Alas! The murderer has escaped! The madman has run away!” he was shouting in distress. Kundavai and Vanathi remembered him well. Was it not they who, at first, had sent him along with Vandiyathevan as an assistant to Kodikkarai? When they freed Pinagapani and questioned him, he briefly recounted the events that had just taken place. He insisted that those who had escaped should be pursued and captured at once.

However, those who listened to his tale did not share his urgency. Inwardly, they admired Vandiyathevan’s cleverness, and at that moment, they even thought that his escape was, in a way, for the best. When Manimekalai began to express her thoughts openly, Kundavai stopped her, saying, “Sister! Be silent! This is a matter of great state importance. What do we women know of such things? Tell me what is in your heart later, in private!”

When they all reached the entrance of the underground prison, Commander-in-Chief Periya Velar arrived there as well. News that something amiss had occurred in the prison had already reached his ears. When he learned what had happened, the Commander-in-Chief too did not show much agitation about capturing the escapees. In truth, he had never really believed the accusations leveled against Vandiyathevan. He was also well aware of the affection that Arulmozhi Varman, Kundavai Devi, and the others bore for Vandiyathevan. Therefore, instead of becoming angry, he merely laughed at Vandiyathevan’s mischievousness.

“That young man of the Vanar clan is exceedingly clever! In Lanka, too, he once escaped in just such a cunning manner from the prison at Mathottam!” he said.

The physician’s son interjected, “Sir! Shouldn’t we make arrangements to search for and capture those who have escaped?” “Ah! Where could they possibly escape to? They must still be somewhere within this fortress. Let us see for ourselves!” declared the Commander-in-Chief, Periya Velar.

Pinagapani, in a fit of agitation, cried out, “No, no! That murderer knows the secret tunnels. He will use them to slip away!”

The Commander’s face darkened with anger. “Fool! Have you come here to teach me my own business? Are you not the very reason they managed to escape? Did you, perhaps, conspire with them on purpose? Is this all your doing? Seize him and throw him back into the underground prison!” he ordered the soldiers standing nearby.

Pinagapani trembled in terror. “No, sir! I swear, I am not part of their conspiracy. The Prime Minister sent me here!” he pleaded.

Ponniyin Selvan stepped forward and said, “Yes, he is indeed the Prime Minister’s man. Let us send him back to the Prime Minister under proper guard. Let the Prime Minister himself decide what punishment he deserves!”

Accordingly, the Commander-in-Chief ordered four of his soldiers to escort the