Kalantaka Kandar had been observing the elephant and the palanquin that had entered the fortress with great attention for some time.

“How astonishing this is!” he exclaimed.

“What is astonishing? What is so surprising?” asked Aniruddhar.

“That Prince Madhurantakan should enter the fortress with such pomp! The prince is known to be a man of great modesty, is he not? Does he not usually travel with the curtains of his palanquin drawn?”

“Is it not natural that one day his shyness should be cast aside? He is soon to be crowned, after all!”

“Has it been decided, then, that Madhurantakan is to be crowned? Who has made this decision?”

“Why, the Emperor himself! When all of us went and gave our consent to the Emperor—”

“What use is it if the Emperor decides and we give our consent? Is it not the armies of Kodumbalur who must give their approval? Is it not strange that Prince Madhurantakan should ride so triumphantly into the fortress guarded by them?” said Kalantaka Kandar.

He took a few steps in the direction the elephant had gone, then turned back again.

Then, looking at Periya Pazhuvetaraiyar, he said, “Brother! I do not stand in the way of all of you entering the fortress. But I alone cannot come. Until yesterday, this fortress was under my command; today, I cannot enter it subject to another’s authority. My heart will not allow it. Go and meet the Emperor, and learn what his wishes are. I will remain outside with our forces. Furthermore, Kandamaran has gone in search of Vandiyathevan. I am eager to know what news he will bring. I must find out how Vandiyathevan escaped from the underground prison, and with whose help he got out. Forgive me, and all of you proceed into the fortress!” he said. The Velar of Kodumbalur opened his mouth to say something. But before he could speak, the elder Pazhuvettarayar approached and said, “Commander! This fool’s mind has become completely muddled. Let him go to ruin if he wishes; let us leave, come!”

However, when these matters were reported to the Emperor the next day, he did not agree with the elder Pazhuvettarayar’s opinion. He insisted that Kaalandhakandar must come.

“My beloved generals! You are all worthy of my trust. But among you all, the one in whom I placed the greatest trust was the fortress-keeper, Kaalandhakandar. Why has he not come? Until he arrives, the matter for which I have summoned you all cannot be concluded!” he declared.

The elder Pazhuvettarayar said, “Emperor! Forgive me! Any decision I agree to, my brother will also accept! It is not necessary that he must come here in person!”

“It is known throughout the world that, just as Lakshmana was to the sovereign Rama, so is Kaalandhakandar to you. Even so, why has he not come today? In all the important councils I have held here before, the younger Pazhuvettarayar has always been present. We have never made a decision without consulting him. Why then should such a wise and valiant man alone be absent now?” asked the Emperor.

Prime Minister Aniruddha replied, “My lord! I shall answer that. Kaalandhakandar has now become a disciple surpassing his master. Though he was told that the Emperor was summoning him, he refused to come. The elder Pazhuvettarayar pleaded with him in many ways, but he would not listen! He has refused to enter the fortress.”

“But let us not forget one thing! He has declared that he will agree to any decision we make here in accordance with the Emperor’s wishes!” said Parthibendran.

“Even so, what is the reason for the younger Pazhuvettarayar’s refusal to come here? Has some new, grave suspicion arisen in his mind?”

“Is it not said that to a frightened man, every shadow is a ghost? Now, whatever it is, he is filled with suspicion! He doubts whether Madurantaka is safe here. He suspects that Vandiyathevan has escaped from the underground dungeon...”

“If any doubt arises in Kaalanthakakandar’s mind, there will surely be a reason for it!” declared the Emperor. At once, silence settled over the gathering for a while. In each person’s heart, different thoughts arose.

Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar cleared his throat and said, “My lord! There may be a reason for my brother’s suspicion; there may also be none. I do not wish to accuse him of any fault. But I will tell you the true reason why he refused to come to the fort. For a long time, this Thanjavur fort was under his command and protection! Now, the responsibility for the fort’s security has shifted to the Periya Velaar! Because of that, he claims he cannot enter this fort! Who can do anything about such obstinate stubbornness?”

“Why not? Justice can be done!” replied Emperor Sundara Chozha.

As soon as the Emperor spoke thus, everyone fell silent once more.

Again, Sundara Chozha continued, “Ministers! The very foundation of the Chozha clan’s glory lies in the fact that the kings of this dynasty have always stood steadfast on the path of justice. You all know the history of one of my ancestors, who sentenced his own beloved son to death for having yoked a royal chariot to a calf in place of its mother. If they dispensed justice even to cattle, what justice would they not have given to their subjects? What fairness would they not have shown to the commanders who aided their rule? Why should I alone act against that tradition and bring disgrace upon the Chozha dynasty? It was a grave mistake that the fort’s security was taken from Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar and handed over to Periya Velaar. Immersed as I was in the grief of my dear son’s untimely death, I failed to reflect on the injustice done to Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar. The Commander-in-Chief must return the fort’s security to him at once!” he said.

The face of Periya Velaar of Kodumbalur darkened.

At that moment, Malayamaan of Thirukovalur stepped forward and said, “My lord! When