Four horses were approaching the great river Kollidam’s ferry point.

Upon those four horses rode four warriors. They were all familiar to us: Parthibendran, Kandhamaaran, Vandiyathevan, and Ponniyin Selvan.

Of these, the first two had come prepared to board the boat and cross the Kollidam, journeying northward. The other two had come to bid them farewell.

When they reached the ferry, all four friends dismounted from their horses.

“Kandhamaaran! Has all your anger towards your old friend vanished now? Or are you still holding on to some remnants?” asked Ponniyin Selvan.

“My lord! What reason do I have to be angry with him? There is much more cause for me to feel remorse over my own foolishness. He forgot all the harm I did him and came forward to befriend me as before—such magnanimity is without equal. He saved my sister from drowning in the river’s flood; can I ever repay that debt of gratitude in this lifetime? When I think of how my mind became so clouded and corrupted, I am astonished at myself. At first, as I had intended, I failed to arrange Manimekalai’s marriage with him. Had I done so, would she have ended up in such a pitiable state today?” said Kandhamaaran.

“Why do you say that? Her memory has suffered a slight lapse due to the shock of falling into the river’s flood. Won’t she recover after a few days?” asked the prince.

“It does not seem like a simple lapse of memory. She remembers everyone else. She recalls all other matters. Only to me and Vandiyathevan does she show no recognition. When I think of the love she bore for me, my heart feels as if it will break. The cry, ‘Alas! I have killed my beloved brother with my own hands!’—that wailing voice still rings in my ears…”

“Why should she cry out like that? You are alive and well, aren’t you?” “I am still alive! How much better it would have been if I had died. Yes, sir! She is convinced that I killed Vandiyathevan, and that for that, she killed me. At times, she weeps thinking of me. At other times, she mourns for my friend, lamenting, ‘Will the river’s flood ever return? Will it bring back those who have died?’ No matter how much I tell her, she refuses to accept that I am her brother. She cannot recognize Vandiyathevan either. She even asks him, ‘Who are you? Have you ever seen the Prince of Vallam?’”

“Is that so?” asked Ponniyin Selvan, turning to look at Vandiyathevan, and saw tears brimming in his eyes.

“Ah! If only she knew that Vandiyathevan is no longer just the Prince of Vallam, but has become the King of Vallam! How much joy that would bring her! Alas, we did not get to tell her,” said Parthibendran.

Hearing this, Kandamaran looked at Ponniyin Selvan with a face full of astonishment.

“Yes, my friend! The Emperor has decided to return the land of Vanagappadi to