Part 1-A New Floods Chapter 8 Who is in the Palanquin? || "Ponniyin Selvan" of Kalki Krishnamurthy Tamil Historic Novel about the Great King Raja Raja Cholan

 CHAPTER 8: Who is in the Palanquin?


For a while, the people in the gathering talked and debated among themselves. With the clamour of many voices falling on his ears, Vandiyathevan could not hear anything clearly.

Sambuvaraiyar raised his voice, “Should we not answer Pazhuvettarayar's question? What is the point of each one of you talking for himself. It’s getting late and the moon has risen.”

“I have a doubt which others may share. If Pazhuvettarayar will not get angry, I would like to ask a question,” said the feeble voice which we heard earlier.

“Isn’t that Vanangamudiyar? Let him come into the light.” “Yes, it’s me. I’m here,” answered Vanangamudiyar.

 “I usually vent my anger on my enemies on the battlefield, not on my friends. You are free to ask me anything you want.”

“In that case, I will. There are people who level the same accusation against Pazhuvettarayar as he does against the Emperor. I may not believe this, but I want clarification.”

“What is it? What clarification?”

“All of us know that Pazhuvettarayar married a girl two years ago.”

Sambuvaraiyar interrupted angrily, “We object strongly to Vanangamudiyar bringing up this topic. It is not right to ask our peerless leader and our principal guest such a distasteful question.”

“I beg Sambuvaraiyar to be patient. Vanangamudiyar is welcome to ask me whatever he wants. It is better to come Out with things openly than keep them in one’s mind. It is true that I married a young girl after my fifty-fifth year. I don’t deny it. I do not claim to be a [38] Kaliyuga Rama. Nor have I ever said that I have taken a vow to have only one wife. I loved the girl and she loved me. We fell in love and married according to the custom of the ancient Tamils. What is wrong with that?”

“There's nothing wrong,” shouted many voices from the crowd.

“I did not say that marrying her was wrong. Which man among us has only one wife? But... but.

“But what? Please don't hesitate, say what’s on your mind.”

“Some people say that Pazhuvettarayar consults his newly wedded wife on everything and does as she bids him. People say he consults her even on matters of state. He takes her wherever he goes.”

Someone in the crowd laughed.

Sambuvaraiyar sprang up, unsheathed his sword and shouted, “Who laughed? Let him come forward and explain.”

 “It was I who laughed. Don’t get agitated,” said Pazhuvettarayar. He turned to Vanangamudiyar and asked, “Is it a crime for the woman I married legally to accompany me wherever I go? It’s true that I take her with me to many places. But it's wrong to say that I consult her on state matters. I never do that.”

“In that case, I ask Pazhuvettarayar to clear one more doubt. What is the palanquin which should be in the anthappuram doing here while we are in secret conclave? Is there anyone inside it? If there isn’t, how is it I heard someone’s throat being cleared and the tinkle of bangles?”

As soon as Vanangamudiyar said this, a strange silence enveloped the crowd. Since many people had had the same suspicion, no one had the courage to contradict Vanangamudiyar. Sambuvaraiyar’s lips moved but no sound emerged.

Pazhuvettarayar's sonorous voice broke the silence. “A good question. I will have to answer it. I’ll clear your doubt before we disperse. Can you be patient for another half hour? Do you have that much faith in me?”

“Of course, of course. We have implicit faith in Pazhuvettarayar,” said many voices.

“I do not want anyone to think that I have less respect and faith in Pazhuvettarayar than they do. He asked me to speak my mind, so I asked the question. Otherwise, his word is my command and I am willing to sacrifice my life at his behest,” said Vanangamudiyar.

“I understand Vanangamudiyar. I also know that all of you have faith in me. Let us first conclude the business for which we are gathered here. May Sundara Chozhar live long and rule the kingdom. But if something happens to him, if the physicians are proved right and if predictions based on evil omens like the comet are fulfilled, we have to decide who will succeed him.”

 “We would like you to tell us your opinion. Nobody here will go against it.”

“That's not right. All of you must think for yourself and say what you feel. I wish to remind you of certain events in the past.”

“The great warrior, Gnani Kandaraditha Thevar, died unexpectedly twenty-four years ago. At that time, his son Maduranthaka Thevar was only a year old. Therefore, before he died, he proclaimed that his brother Arinjaya Thevar should succeed him. His consort, Sembiyanmadevi announced this. Accordingly, we crowned Arinjaya Thevar. As fate would have it, Arinjayar did not occupy the throne more than a year. His eldest son, Paranthaka Sundara Chozhar, was then twenty years old. With the welfare of the empire and its future at heart, all of us, ministers, officials, princes and others united and decided to crown him king. We never regretted it. Sundara Chozhar ruled the country without infringing any of the laws until two years ago. He respected our feelings, consulted us on all matters and was an excellent administrator. The empire expanded and prospered. Now his health has become a cause for anxiety. Who has the right to succeed him? Maduranthaka Thevar, the exalted son of Kandaradithar, has now come of age and is fully qualified to rule the country. In all aspects, intelligence, education, character and devotion, he is well equipped to ascend the throne. Sundara Chozhar’s son, Aditha Karikalar, younger than Madurantakar by a year, is the general of the northern army. Which of the two should rightfully ascend the throne?

What is the law of the clan? What is right, what is wrong, according to the Law of Manu? What is the ancient Tamil practice? Should Maduranthakar, the son of the older brother, or Adithar, the grandson of the younger, be crowned? Each one of you should say what he thinks.”

“Only Maduranthakar, the son of the older Kandaradhithar has a right to the throne. That is just, right and appropriate,” said Sambuvaraiyar.

 “I think so too.”

“I’m of the same opinion.”

Many voices in the gathering spoke.

“I agree with you. The throne is rightfully Maduranthakar’s. But are we ready to make the effort to establish that right? Are we ready to sacrifice our bodies, our spirits, our wealth and our lives for this struggle? Each one of us must pledge his willingness to do this before Durga. Are we prepared?” asked Pazhuvettarayar, his voice rising emotionally.

For a while, there was silence. Sambuvaraiyar said, “With God as our witness, we are ready to take an oath. But I need to first ascertain something. What is Maduranthakar’s wish? Is he willing to ascend the throne and take on its responsibilities? We hear that Kandaradithar’s beloved son has renounced worldly pleasures and immersed himself in devotion to Siva and that he has no desire to govern the kingdom. His mother, Sembiyanmadevi, is completely against her son being crowned. We wish to hear the truth from you.”

“A good question. And you ask at the right moment. It is also my duty to clarify this. I should have done it earlier. Forgive me for this lapse on my part.” Pazhuvettarayar continued, “The whole country knows that Sembiyanmadevi tried to divert her son's attention from the governance of the kingdom to the path of devotion. Because once his interest in the throne is known his life may be in danger. It’s only natural for a mother to wish that her son stay alive rather than ascend the throne and be in danger!”

“Aha! Is that so?” asked many voices. “Maduranthakar viewed his mother’s wish as a divine

command and led a life of detachment. He was an ardent devotee of Siva. But his attitude seems to have changed recently. The conviction that the kingdom belongs to him and that it is his duty to take care of it has taken deep root in his mind. If he knows that all of you are willing to support him he will proclaim this in public.”

“What proof is there for this?”

“I will provide satisfactory proof. If I do, are all of you prepared to swear your allegiance?”

“Yes, yes, we are prepared,” said many voices. “And there is no doubt in anyone’s mind?” “No! No!”

“In that case, I will give you proof at once and also clear Vanangamudiyar’s doubts.” Pazhuvettarayar strode rapidly towards the palanquin.

With great humility he said, “May it please my prince to draw the curtain aside and emerge from the palanquin? Please give your darshan to all these brave warriors who are willing to sacrifice their bodies, their lives and their souls for you.”

 Hidden behind a pillar, Vandiyathevan, who was listening raptly to everything without missing a word looked down cautiously. A hand drew the curtain aside. It was golden in colour, the same one he had seen. But what he had taken to be a bangle was a bracelet of the kind that princes wear. A golden face appeared, like the full moon, and smiled. A body like Manmathan’s followed. Was this Maduranthakar, the son of Kandaradithar? Vandiyathevan had thought it was a girl because he was inside a palanquin. Azhwarkadiyan had made the same mistake. Vandiyathevan turned to see whether Azhwarkadiyan's head was still visible. But there was darkness beneath the shadow of the tree and nothing was visible.

Then he heard the sound of cheering. “Long live Maduranthaka Thevar!”

“Long live the Crown Prince! Vetrivel! Veeravel!”

The crowd waved swords animatedly and brandished spears as they shouted. Realizing that it would be dangerous if he stayed there any longer, Vandiyathevan returned to his quarters and lay down.

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Part 1-A New Floods Chapter 7 LAUGHTER AND RAGE || "Ponniyin Selvan" of Kalki Krishnamurthy Tamil Historic Novel about the Great King Raja Raja Cholan

 CHAPTER 7 LAUGHTER AND RAGE

The moment Vandiyathevan heard Pazhuvettarayar say the word “succession” he came to a decision. “What are these people going to discuss about the succession? Who are they anyway, to discuss such a matter? I must stay on and find out what is going to happen at this meeting. I can’t find a better place for that than this. To hell with Azhwarkadiyan! Why worry about him?”

Vandiyathevan had already sensed that something mysterious was going to happen that evening.

Azhwarkadiyan's words that had been pregnant with meaning, the arrogant behaviour of the sentinels, Sambuvaraiyar’s half-hearted welcome,  the  evil  forebodings of the possessed fanatic — all these had filled his troubled mind with suspicion. An opportunity to clear all his doubts had presented itself through God’s grace. Why let it slip?

Aha! Even Kandan Maran, whom he had considered a close friend, had not told him the truth. He had told him to go to sleep and then come here for this midnight meeting. He had to tackle Kandan Maran firmly tomorrow.

By this time, Pazhuvettarayar had begun to talk. Vandiyathevan listened attentively.

“I’ve come here today to make an important announcement. It is for this purpose that Sambuvaraiyar convened this meeting. Emperor Sundara Chozhar’s state of health is causing great anxiety. I asked the palace physicians about it discreetly and they said, “There is no longer any hope. He will not live long.” We must now think of what is going to happen after...” Pazhuvettarayar stopped.

“What do the astrologers say?’ asked a voice from the crowd.

“Why ask the astrologers? For some time now, a comet has been appearing in the sky at twilight. That's enough, isn’t it?” said another.

Pazhuvettarayar went on, “Well, we’ve asked the astrologers. They say it's merely a matter of time. That's all. Anyway, we’ll have to think about who has the right to succeed.”

“What's the point of thinking about it now? Aditha Karikalar was anointed Crown Prince all of two years ago,” murmured a soft voice.

“That’s true. But I would like to know whether the Emperor sought advice from any of us before he was anointed. Each of us here belongs to ancient clans that have striven for more than a hundred years for the glorification of the Chozha dynasty. My great-grandfather died in the battle of Thirupurambayam. My grandfather fell in the battle of Vellore. My father sacrificed his life at Thakkolam. Each one of your ancestors sacrificed his life like this for the greatness of the Chozha empire. All our families have lost young men who perished in battle. Even now, boys from our clans and our families are engaged in war in Eezham. But the Emperor did not deign to consult us on who should be king. Even Dasaratha convened a meeting of his ministers to discuss the crowning of Rama. He sought the opinion of the ministers, the high officials, the army chiefs and the princes. However, the Emperor Sundara Chozhar did not think there was any need to consult us.”

“It is true that our opinion was not sought. But it is not correct for Pazhuvettarayar to say that no one has been taken into confidence. Can he say that the Rani Sembiyanmadevi or the Princess Kundavai Devi was not consulted?” remarked someone sarcastically, amidst laughter.

“Aha! You laugh. I don't understand how you can. My stomach churns and my blood boils when I think about it. Why should I continue this shameless existence? When he became possessed, the devaralan said that Durga wants a sacrifice.

He said that the person offered as sacrifice should have a lineage going back a thousand years. My family can claim such a past. Stab me in the neck, each one of you and sacrifice me! Durga will be satisfied and my soul will rest in peace.” Pazhuvettarayar spoke as passionately as the man who had been possessed.

There was silence for a while except for the sound of the west wind rustling through the trees outside the walls of the fort.

 “Pazhuvettarayar should be tolerant and forgive the mocking remarks and the laughter they provoked. You are an incomparable leader. All of us here are ready to carry out your orders. We will tread the path you point out to us. Please forgive us,” Sambuvaraiyar said with feeling.

“I was a bit impatient too. I ask you to forgive me for it. Just think of it. A hundred years ago, Vijayalaya defeated the Mutharayars and captured Thanjavur. He stood by the Pallava forces in Thirupurambiyam and decimated the Pandyan army of Madurai. Ever since, the Chozha empire has grown from day to day. It has risen to greater heights than it did during the reign of Karikala Valavar, who built the banks of the Kaveri. Today it extends from the cape at Kanyakumari in the south to the banks of the Tungabhadra and the Krishna in the north. Pandyanadu, Cheranadu, which was independent until recently, Thondaimandalam, Bagli, Ganga, Nulambapadi, Vaidumbaranadu,  Cheetpulinadu,  Perumpanapadi  and Kudagu, the source of the Kaveri: Chozhanadu controls all these and collects tributes from them. The Chozha flag with the tiger insignia flies in all these countries. Eezham in the south and the Rashtrakutas and Vengi in the north should also have come under our control by now. I don’t need to tell you why this has not happened. All of you here know why.”

“Yes! All of us know. There are two reasons why Eezham, the Rashtrakutas and Vengi have not come within our fold. One is Aditha Karikalar, the general in the north and the other is his younger brother Arulmozhi Varmar, the general in the south.”

“I accept Mazhavarayar's reasons. For a hundred years, the Chozhas have selected their commanders in a different way. Only brave and experienced men who had fought many battles were appointed chieftains and generals. But what has happened now? The older prince is the general of the northern forces. What is he doing? He has not gone to war against the Rashtrakutas and Vengi. He lingers in Kanchipuram building a golden palace. Let me ask you, the scions of brave and noble families who have gathered here.

Has any Tamil monarch ever built himself a palace of gold? The immortal Paranthakar, who annexed Madurai and Eezham and became world renowned — did he build a golden palace for himself? He laid a golden roof over the temple at Chidambaram. But Prince Aditha Karikalar has built a golden palace in Kanchipuram to live in! Obviously the palaces in which the Pallava emperors lived for generations, and from where they ruled, are not in keeping with his status! He has built a golden palace! He has encrusted the walls with precious gems and diamonds! From all the wealth he plundered from the Ganga, Kudagu and other territories, not a single piece of copper has he sent to the central treasury till today...”

“Has he finished building the golden palace?”

“Yes. I learnt from my spies that it’s been completed. The Emperor, Sundara Chozhar, has also received letters from his beloved first born asking him to spend some time in the newly built golden palace.”

A worried voice asked, “And is the Emperor going to Kanchipuram?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing like that happens. My brother is the commandant of the Thanjavur fort. No one can enter the fort without Chinna Pazhuvettarayar's permission. No One can meet the Emperor or hand over palm-scrolls without my knowledge. I have already stopped two or three scrolls from reaching him.”

A chorus rose. “Long live Pazhuvettarayar! Long live the [22] Chanakya-like qualities of the Lord of Pazhuvoor! Long live his valour!”

“Listen to me. Prince Arulmozhivarmar, who is fighting in Eezham, has been behaving even more strangely. You know what Our customary practices and rights are during a war, the practices our forefathers have followed for centuries.

When our troops invade another country, they have to fend for themselves with what they can capture there. They have to subsist on local produce and their salaries have to be paid from the booty collected from the conquered region, any excess being sent to the central treasury. But what does Prince Arulmozhivarmar do? He wants us to send food for his troops in Eezham. Over the past year I have shipped supplies ten times.”

People in the audience shouted, “Strange! Strange! This kind of injustice cannot be tolerated! We’ve never heard of anything like this.”

“Listen to the reason the Prince gives for this strange behaviour,” continued Pazhuvettarayar. “He says that if our troops collect their provisions locally, the people there will be unhappy. Our quarrel is only with the rulers of Eezham, we have nothing against the people of Eezham. Therefore they shouldn’t have to suffer. Once we defeat the ruler, we should have the wholehearted consent of the people to rule them.

So, we'll have to send them provisions and money, won’t we?”

Someone in the audience called out, “Not ask the people whose land we’ve conquered for anything! Fall at their feet and worship them! I’ve never heard of such a code of war!”

“Please listen to the serious consequences. Thanks to the two princes, the treasury and granary of the Thanjavur palace are being depleted. I am forced to levy higher taxes. This is why I've been appointed. If I did not believe in the greatness of the Chozha empire, I would have stepped down long ago.”

“No! You must never leave us. It’s because you’re in this position that we feel so safe. Did you not complain to the Emperor about these unjust actions?”

“Didn't I? I’ve told him many times. He always says, Ask the Periya Piratti, ask the Ilaya Piratti.” As I said earlier, the Emperor has lost his ability to think for himself, nor does he consult us even on important issues. He lays great store by his aunt Sembiyanmadevi’s advice. Or he asks us to consult his daughter Kundavai. Just think of it — people like me and the ministers who have grown grey in the service of the empire, standing in front of a chit of a girl, who has not gone beyond Kollidam in the north and Kudamurutti in the south, and asking her advice! From the beginning, we of the Chozha empire have never heard of women interfering in the affairs of state. How long can we stand this kind of insult? If all of you agree, I’ll give up my responsibility to the state and the arduous tasks of levying taxes and keeping the coffers filled, and return to my village.

“No! No! Pazhuvettarayar cannot forsake us. The Chozha empire, built by thousands of soldiers who shed their blood over four generations, will go to pieces,” said Sambuvaraiyar.

“In that case, it is you who have to advise me on what I should do. What can we do for this kingdom, rotting because women wield the power — you tell me!” said Pazhuvettarayar.

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Part 1-A New Floods Chapter 6 The Midnight Meeting || "Ponniyin Selvan" of Kalki Krishnamurthy Tamil Historic Novel about the Great King Raja Raja Cholan

 CHAPTER 6 The Midnight Meeting

After the performance, the guests were treated to a huge feast. But Vandiyathevan had no taste for the repast. He was exhausted, his mind was in turmoil.

His friend, Kandan Maran, sat next to him and proudly identified the guests. Pazhuvettarayar, Sambuvaraiyar and Mazhavarayar were all there. He pointed out the landlord of Kunrathur, Pallavarayar, Kalingarayar, Munawarayar, Poovaraiyar, Singamutharayar and Rajaliyar, whispering their names to Vandiyathevan. These were not ordinary persons, nor were they usually seen together. Most of them were petty princes or had earned their designations by performing brave deeds.

In those days, princes and dignitaries of equal status added the suffix ‘arayar' to their names. It was the practice to identify them by the name of their native place, with “arayar' attached to it.

In those days “arayar' was not just a hereditary title that entitled the holder to a life of luxury in the palace. Only those who were capable of leading their warriors into battle and who emerged as battle-scarred veterans could retain the title. These chieftains ruled within the borders of their countries but were still under Sundara Chozhar of Pazhayarai. Some of them occupied important posts in the Chozha administration.

Vandiyathevan should have been pleased to see so many important personages of the Chozha empire assembled in one place. But he was not. He asked himself why they had all met there. All sorts of suspicions and apprehensions troubled him.

Vandiyathevan went to bed in the space Kandan Maran had provided for him, troubled by all these doubts. Since there were so many guests in the huge palace, he could only be given a small corner in a mandapam upstairs, on an open verandah. Kandan Maran said to him as he left, “You must be tired. Sleep well. I’ll tend to the other guests and then come and sleep beside you.”

As soon as he lay down, Vandiyathevan's eyelids drooped. Nidradevi, the Goddess of Sleep, slowly engulfed him. But it was no use. Even Nidradevi could not subsume that thing called the mind. Even when the body lay supine and his eyes closed, thoughts buried in the depths of his subconscious flowered as dreams. Many events, meaningless experiences and irrelevant thoughts came to him in this dream world.

He heard a jackal howl from somewhere far away. One jackal became ten, then hundred, and the howling grew louder. They came nearer and nearer Vandiyathevan, their eyes blazing in the darkness like pieces of glowing coal.

He tried to turn and escape in the opposite direction, but was confronted by a pack of ten, a hundred, a thousand barking dogs that charged at him, their eyes blazing.

He trembled at the thought of being trapped between the dogs and the jackals. Luckily, he spotted a temple, ran inside and bolted the door. He turned and saw that it was a Kali temple. A priest armed with a scimitar emerged from behind the statue of Kali, whose mouth was a gaping gash. 

He came nearer and nearer Vandiyathevan, shouting, “Come on! Come to me!” “What is the history of your royal lineage? How many years has your clan been ruling? Tell me the truth!” said the priest. 

“I belong to the Vanar clan which ruled for three hundred years. We lost our kingdom to the Vaidumbarayars during my father’s reign.” “That means you’re unfit to be sacrificed. Go on, run,” said the priest. 

Kannan suddenly took Kali’s place. Two girls holding garlands danced in his shrine, singing Andal’s pasurams. As Vandiyathevan began to lose himself in the music, he heard Azhwarkadiyan's loud voice singing behind him. “We saw, we saw what was pleasing to the eye.” Actually it was his head, which was on the sacrificial altar, singing.


Repelled by this sight, Vandiyathevan turned, and knocked his head against a pillar. The dream vanished and his eyes opened. But he saw something which connected reality with the dream.

 

Opposite him, there was a head on the ramparts of the Kadambur palace. Azhwarkadiyan's head. This was no illusion, no dream, it was reality. Because as long as he stared at it, the head was there. And he knew that it was not just a head but had a body attached to it. For Azhwarkadiyan's hands were gripping the top of the ramparts. And he was peering down intently. What was he looking at? There must be a plot somewhere. Azhwarkadiyan's motives for being here couldn’t be good. He must have come with an evil intent to do harm.

As Kandan Maran's dear friend, was it not Vandiyathevan's duty to prevent him from doing something wrong? How could he sleep peacefully if he didn't protect from harm those who had fed him so kindly?

Vandiyathevan sprang up. He tucked his sword into his waistband and walked towards the head.

He had been lying in a corner of the mandapam of the upper storey of the palace. So he had to negotiate his way through the decorated tops of the mandapam, the stage, the stupas and the pillars. When he had walked a short distance, he suddenly heard voices and paused. He clung to a pillar and peered down from behind it. Ten or twelve people were seated in a cramped, dimly lit courtyard, surrounded by high walls on three sides.

They were all dignitaries he had met during the night’s festivities, princes and important officials of the Chozha empire. They must have gathered here in the dead of night to discuss something important.

 Azhwarkadiyan was seated on the wall to overhear what he could and find out what they were doing. He had been clever enough to choose a vantage spot from where he could watch them unseen. No doubt he had been clever enough to find this spot. But his ingenuity was not going to work with Vandiyathevan. That impostor of a Vaishnavite would be caught red-handed... however, it was impossible to cross over to the wall unobserved by the gathering. It could be dangerous for him if they caught him.

He remembered Sambuvaraiyar saying, “Today of all days!” They must have gathered to discuss something of great importance and it was clear they did not want anyone else to know what it was. That being the case, if they saw Vandiyathevan quite suddenly wouldn’t they be suspicious?

Azhwarkadiyan could jump down and escape before he could tell them about him. But all he would achieve would be to rouse their suspicions. If they asked, “Why did you come here when you are supposed to be sleeping?” what would he reply? He would place Kandan Maran in an awkward position as well. Aha! There was Kandan Maran, also seated. Perhaps he was deliberating with them? I could ask him in the morning, he thought, and find out everything.

At that moment, Vandiyathevan's attention was drawn to the palanquin that had been set down near the crowd. Ah! Wasn't that the palanquin that had followed Pazhuvettarayar's elephant? The woman who had parted the curtain and peered out, where could she be now? They said the old man had not even sent her to the anthappuram. This was the trouble when older men married young women. They were constantly suspicious and couldn’t bear to be separated from their loved ones even for a minute. The young wife was probably in the palanquin now. Aha! Look at that great warrior’s fates Ensnared by a young girl, he suffers, at his age, as her slave! It isn’t as though she’s a Rathi or a Menaka or a Rambal Vandiyathevan could not forget the dislike he had felt when he first saw her. Why was Pazhuvettarayar infatuated by such a woman? Azhwarkadiyan’s obsession was even more amazing. Perhaps he was clinging to the wall now because this palanquin was here. What was their relationship? She could be his sister, or even his lover. Pazhuvettarayar could have abducted her forcibly. One could believe he had.

Perhaps Azhwarkadiyan was seeking an opportunity to meet her and talk to her. Why worry, thought Vandiyathevan. Let me go back to sleep. 

Just as he decided this, he heard his name mentioned and instantly became alert. “That boy who’s come, claiming to be your son’s friend — where's he sleeping? He must not hear anything we say. Remember, he serves the commander of the north. Till our plan bears fruit, no one else must know of it. If there's even the slightest suspicion that this youngster has heard something of all this, he must not be allowed to leave this fort. It might be prudent to finish him off once and for all.”

Readers can imagine Vandiyathevan's feelings when he heard this. However, he decided to listen and stayed rooted to the spot. Who was the commander of the north? He was none other than Emperor Sundara Chozhar’s eldest son, Aditha Karikala Chozhar, the heir apparent to the throne. What was their objection to his working for him? What were they going to discuss that Karikala Chozhar should not know?

He heard Kandan Maran springing to his defence.

“Vandiyathevan is peacefully asleep in a corner of the mandapam on the upper level. He can’t hear what we are saying. He's not the kind that interferes in what doesn’t concern him. Even if he gets to know something, it won’t harm your plans. I will vouch for him,” he said.

“I’m glad you have so much confidence in him. But none of us know anything about him. That's why I warned you. We're going to discuss a most important issue now: the right of succession to a big empire. Even if one word slips out carelessly, the consequences could be catastrophic. Let all of us keep this in mind!” said Pazhuvettarayar.

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