Amirtha was overseeing the table arrangements in the Vyabar Chamber. A long table draped in white sheets held fruit bowls, Munnir, and Yavana madhu - imported wine from Mahanad. Eight to ten chairs lined either side. She looked at it and smiled.
Traditionally, all feudatory kings and the Emperor were required to attend the Vyabar discussion, held to negotiate the repayment of loans and interest. But today's meeting carried a different weight, because the Vyabar had not been called by a feudatory king - it had been called by the Empress of Ankala. Enemy territory. Some of the loans had been taken during the Pathukala times. The debt repayment was considerable, and the interest was paid out equally to the feudatory kings. As Pathukala had been legally recognized as a feudatory kingdom, there was a seat for them as well.
Amirtha was gracious, wearing a golden yellow saree with thin jewels running all over her body. Her eyes were dark-kohled - a negotiation technique to mimic the eye's natural reaction. She had prepared every account, every statement, every message, and was planning not to reduce the interest by even a single percent. But deep inside, something felt wrong. The Ankalan Empress wouldn't come all this way without a plan. The feudatory kings' voices mattered because they received direct interest benefits, but Amirtha was fairly certain none of them would show.
She had never met Sikala, but she had enormous respect for her governance. She had watched what the young woman had done to stabilize a burning Ankala. She had also seen Sikala's father rule - the reckless war with the Dhirans that drove the crown into debt, and his fatal belief that he could take Chakra by force.
Amirtha had expected Sikala to break within weeks of taking the throne. But when the first payment arrived, she stumbled. Even if the Chakrans had ruled over Ankala directly, recovering that money would have been nearly impossible. Yet Sikala had rebuilt the administration in weeks. And when Amirtha learned that Adhiyavan was in love with her, she was certain.
She pulled out the chair assigned to the Emperor and sat at the center of the table, waiting for Sikala to arrive.
Thiran, the finance minister of Ankala - a man with a humble fishing background and a distinct smell of the sea - walked in with two advisors and entered the Vyabar Chamber. Amirtha didn't so much as flinch to acknowledge him.
Thiran pulled out the chair assigned to the Empress and sat down. Amirtha's jaw tightened.
He looked at her and smiled.
"Shall we start?"
Amirtha, with her hands flat on the table:
"I was expecting your Empress."
Thiran was arranging his palm-leaf books. He looked straight at her.
"I don't see the Emperor either."
---
The march drills were sending waves of sand into the air. It was the first time the Swarpa Regiment was participating in a crown event. During every crown event, one-tenth of the army was sent as an assurance of allegiance to the new leader. The hot sun had already drained King Gibra, who sat inside the tent while servants fanned him with peacock feathers.
He stumbled to his feet as Adhiyavan entered.
"My Prince, it is an honor!"
Adhiyavan, with a gentle smile, walked outside. King Gibra followed him into the heat.
"I thought you were at the Vyabar Chamber!"
They walked slowly toward the palace. Large banners were being placed for each house; Swarpa's was at the far end.
"Meetings are boring. Besides, Minister Amirtha would have already made up her mind. Why waste our time?"
Adhiyavan stopped and looked back.
"I think you should be in the Vyabar Chamber today."
King Gibra was confused, then remembered - today's meeting was about the Ankalan debt renegotiation.
"I will do as my Prince pleases. What should I do?"
Adhiyavan smiled.
"I thought we were allies."
King Gibra nodded continuously.
"Yes, my Prince."
Adhiyavan stopped and looked back.
"Is Amirtha our ally?"
Gibra shook his head vigorously.
"Should we let her win?"
Gibra mumbled, "It is a loss to Swarpa - though not a considerable one."
Adhiyavan smiled.
"Imagine great ships carrying Swarpa diamond, steel, and stone to Mahanad. Those people have never seen such things. They would pay anything to buy them."
Gibra understood what Adhiyavan was implying - that his dream of using the Kariyan ships would come to nothing if he didn't comply.
They reached the section of the coronation ground assigned to the Aadhi Regiment, which was currently empty.
"I'm on my way to the Vyabar Chamber, my Prince."
Gibra turned and walked back toward the palace.
Adhiyavan stood looking at the ceremony ground. Laborers were pulling the red carpet along the center. The ceremony chariot - the one the Prince would arrive in - had been brought forward. A familiar voice came from behind.
"Do you think he'll reach the Vyabar Chamber before the meeting ends?"
Adhiyavan turned to find King Niran standing alongside another man, looking curious.
"Pardon me, my Prince - this is King Logawara of the Kash region in Ankala. My cousin."
Adhiyavan smiled.
"I thought you only worshipped the same god. I didn't realize you were related."
King Logawara smiled.
"It is a long story, my Prince."
King Niran went on:
"I've asked the Pathukalans and even Emperor Thejan many times for the return of Ponni devi, but that request never bore fruit. I simply mentioned the importance of Ponni Devi to our Prince, and the next thing we knew, our mighty god had been reinstated at the very Sigam Islands."
A veiled jab - cleverly unwrapping Adhiyavan's relationship with Empress Sikala.
Adhiyavan looked at them both.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the Vyabar Chamber?"
King Niran bit his tongue.
"Yes - right. We're leaving now." And he dragged King Logawara with him.
---
"What do you mean there's no one in the Ruby Chambers?" Amirtha slapped the table, stood, and turned on the palace guard who had delivered the news.
"Give me a minute." She walked toward him.
She sent him to fetch Kani, or a Pathukalan representative. Though she had no wish to involve Pathukala, it was officially required - all other kingdoms had sent messengers and ministers, and the newly recognized Pathukala was no exception.
She also used the moment as a break from Thiran, who wasn't budging. He wanted the interest cut by half. To the Chakran treasury, it was hardly a scratch - but Amirtha was holding the line. She didn't want Ankala walking away with more gold than necessary.
Thiran kept his calm. He knew people were starving, and if this looting of interest continued, his own people would face the same fate as those of Kash.
Amirtha wrote on a palm leaf and handed it to the guard.
"Find the Pathukalan princess wherever she is. Hand it to her, and confirm she can read."
She returned to the Emperor's chair and sat.
"This has been the way since ages. You are young and have questionable experience, which is why you don't understand the payment structure behind this."
A dig at Thiran's inexperience. He didn't flinch.
"I need not explain how interest payments work to the Chakran minister. We have paid three times what we borrowed from the Pathukalans - debt you inherited. By all laws, no emperor has changed the terms of an inherited loan. Our gracious Empress has continued paying to maintain friendship - not to keep our people starved."
Amirtha knew it was a losing battle. The Chakrans had exploited these interest arrangements across old rules and new.
"An interest reduction is not a decision I can make alone. All feudatory kings and the Emperor must be present. As you can see, there are none. And if there are none, my decision is final."
Thiran knew exactly what was happening.
"There is no one now, but the meeting is not over until I leave your capital - and I won't leave until I see all of them at this table. It can take days, weeks, months. I will remain in your capital."
Amirtha exhaled slowly. She thought of what Emperor Thejan had said before she entered the meeting - that what she was doing was wrong, that she should reduce the interest to one-tenth of the current rate. She had challenged him. She had promised to give the Ankalan Empress nothing.
She came back to herself.
"Even if everyone were here, only a fool would expect them to agree to lose. You may not be familiar with our new rules - you follow the old ones. Every kingdom receives a direct share of the interest collected from crown debts. I know you cannot wrap your head around that level of generosity. An interest reduction means they are giving up their own money."
Every word was calculated to wound Thiran, to push him toward submission.
Thiran, neutral as stone:
"Thank you for explaining your superior new rule. I will wait and hear it from the kings and the Emperor himself."
Amirtha's face reddened. She needed a break.
"Very well. In the meantime, shall we verify this month's interest payment?"
Thiran turned and signaled the Ankalan soldiers, who brought in sixteen wooden boxes of gold, silver, and bronze coins. Amirtha called the Kannakar - specialists in accounts - to verify the money. It would take hours. She was testing Thiran's waiting game.
The Kannakars took the boxes and settled in a corner of the room without disturbing the table.
---
Jaya entered the Empress's chambers to find Kani being dressed by the Ankalan servants, murmuring steadily, "Please - enough, enough." Her eyes widened. Kani was graceful and luminous, and Sikala sat on the bed smiling at her refusal to be decorated.
Kani glanced back at Jaya, smiled, then looked at Sikala. Jaya walked over and delivered the news: Thiran had arrived and was already in the meeting with Amirtha in the Vyabar Chamber, as planned. Sikala received this with calm confidence in Thiran's ability to hold the room.
Grand drums and Mallarai music rose from the gates. Kani, curious, moved the maids aside and leaned toward the window. Sikala remained still - she already knew. Only one man in the entire island announced himself like this.
Vangudi Velan. Adhiyavan's uncle, and the Empress's own brother. Chieftain of the richest, most fertile lands in the island.
The Ankalan invasion forty years ago had swept through his lands, and it had made the then-Prince of Chenna - Thejan- and his wife Parandvani furious. That invasion toppled the Pathukalans and forged Emperor Thejan.
Sikala was a woman who lived inside history, and she was fairly certain Kani shouldn't hear this particular story - not looking at her like that, open-faced and innocent.
Kani darted across the room to the veranda as the grand chariots, wagons, horses, and cattle settled below, and the Vangudi family entered the palace.
She whispered:
"There's a fat man and a beautiful girl."
Vanathi looked up at Kani from the ground floor. Kani smiled and walked back to Sikala.
"Who is that girl below? She looked at me." She asked Sikala, confused.
Sikala pinched her cheek.
"She is your favourite person's favourite person."
Kani's jaw dropped. Sikala smiled.
---
"What will I do without you?" Emperor Thejan lay on the swing in the Emperor Chamber, his head in Empress Parandvani's lap.
She smiled and stroked his head.
"A useless event, if he isn't taking the throne for another five years. Is any of this even necessary?"
Empress Parandvani, with a gentle smile:
"Did he say that?"
The Emperor nodded like a child.
"Do you really think he can handle the three girls?"
Without a moment's hesitation:
"No, he couldn't."
They smiled.
"Sikala is the only hope for this island. Kani - oh, my god - such a charming, kind-hearted woman, and your idiot son absolutely does not deserve her. And then there's Vanathi."
Emperor Thejan turned and looked straight into her eyes.
"Yes. The smartest Chakran, currently negotiating interest rates in the Vyabar Chamber. What happens when she learns about all of this?" He laughed.
They mocked Amirtha.
"Do we really need the Uthagans? The useless troublemakers. We have Pathukala and Ankala now - thanks to your idiot son."
The Empress gave him a light smack on the head.
"Don't call him an idiot. He is your son. What did you expect?"
She continued:
"They are still the second largest regiment in the empire. You don't want to lose them." She looked at him.
Emperor Thejan smiled faintly.
"Yes - untested. Probably undertrained as well. They were too afraid to march in the Ankalan war two years ago."
Empress Parandvani's face fell.
"Please don't bring up your war stories in front of Sikala. That poor girl - at such a young age, to have gone through all of that."
Emperor Thejan sat up and moved beside the Empress.
"I'm more worried about Kani. I killed her father and great-grandfather. Yet here she is. Looking back at all of it, I think we should never have gone to war for Vangudi."
The palace doors opened. A guard stepped in and kept his head down.
"Vangudi Velan is here."
Emperor Thejan looked at Empress Parandvani, whose face had turned joyful.
"Speak of the devil." He mocked her brother - and was silenced by her stare.
The guard left. The Empress pulled his hand toward the door.
"No. I won't welcome him." He lay back on the swing, head in hand.
"Is there anyone in the entire island worthy of my welcome?"
Empress Parandvani walked out with quiet disappointment to receive her brother.
---
"Where is he?" Vanathi asked the Empress, head bowed, her hair neatly combed and fragrant with jasmine oil. She wore a stiff cotton saree - the complete picture of a Chakran woman.
Empress Parandvani smiled, patted her cheek, and showed her to the newly built, larger chamber on the third floor - directly across from the Emperor's.
Vanathi was also curious about the woman who had looked down at her from the Empress's chambers when she arrived. As the dust of the arrival settled, she decided to go find out for herself.
The palace was sparsely occupied - most were at the ceremonial ground. She found no palace guards to ask and simply started walking.
She reached the empty Ruby Chamber and passed through without stopping.
The doors of the Empress's Chamber burst open just as Vanathi crossed past it, and the shock made her grip a nearby pillar. Then she saw the face - the same woman from Adhiyavan's portrait - and froze.
Vanathi had been at the Chakran fort two years back, right after the Ankalan war, trying to pacify Adhiyavan. She had seen the portrait of this woman in his room without him knowing. Adhiyavan had completely ignored her during that visit. Then a few weeks back, he had appeared at her own home, unannounced.
She had been quietly happy when she learned he had recognized Bila and sent him to Vakkanam on some errand.
Sikala looked steadily at the startled Vanathi. She cleared the guards and asked all the men to leave.
Vanathi was about to speak when Sikala stopped her.
"Even your eyes only see the Ankalan Empress."
Vanathi's own eyes went wide. Those were the exact words she had said to Adhiyavan when he came to her home.
Sikala stopped teasing and opened her arms.
"Come in."
Vanathi entered and found Jaya and Kani.
Kani flushed the moment she saw Vanathi and ducked behind Jaya - embarrassed for having made fun of her from the window.
Vanathi walked over, sat close to Kani, and smiled.
"I'm Vanathi. I heard you brought the elephant - can I feed it?"
Kani relaxed immediately and nodded yes.
A Chakran guard asked to deliver a message. Sikala nodded, and he stepped in.
"Minister Amirtha requires the presence of the Pathukalan representative in the Vyabar Chamber."
Sikala dismissed him with a nod.
Kani's eyes went wide.
"What does any of that even mean?"
Sikala and Vanathi smiled.
"They can wait for us."
---
"Welcome to the Vyabar Chamber, King Gibra. It is my honor."
Amirtha greeted him with a flicker of doubt and glanced at Thiran.
King Gibra placed his scepter on the table and took the chair beside Amirtha.
She smiled and returned to the debt repayment account - both records matched against each other. She was already sensing something wrong. King Gibra was a sharp man with money. He only gave his time when there was something in it for him.
She looked at Thiran.
"Of course, our esteemed King of Swarpa would never surrender his share of the interest. So - do you want to wait for every king to arrive, or will you hear from King Gibra alone and let us get back to celebrating our Prince's coronation?"
Thiran, calmly:
"I'll wait."
King Gibra took a sip of Yavana madhu and looked at Thiran.
"From Mahanad?"
"Yes. My gift to the Chakran throne."
Gibra had heard from his merchants how rich and lavish Mahanad was. His goal was drawing closer. One could see it in his eyes.
Amirtha stood up, speechless, as Queen PadmaDevi walked into the Vyabar Chamber. Of all the kingdoms, Vilanur was the last she had expected.
Queen PadmaDevi looked at Amirtha.
"Am I not invited?"
Amirtha moved immediately.
"Of course - please, Queen PadmaDevi, welcome to the Vyabar Chamber."
Queen PadmaDevi took the chair farthest from everyone else.
Thiran looked at the Queen. She wore white - distinctly unusual. Her eyes were dark and heavy. She was in mourning. Ankalan women were granted a reverence close to the divine.
Amirtha had no time to breathe before King Niran walked in alongside King Logawara.
Thiran stood first.
"Welcome, King Logawara, to the Ankalan debt negotiations."
King Niran glanced at Amirtha, surprised.
She caught herself.
"Welcome, King Niran, to the Vyabar Chamber."
King Logawara sat beside Thiran. King Niran took the chair beside King Gibra.
Amirtha felt the room slipping from her.
Thiran looked at her.
"Perhaps you should apologize to the Kings and Queen for misjudging their attendance."
Amirtha sat down, staring at Thiran, jaw set.
---
With a wide smile, Emperor Thejan welcomed Empress Parandvani back as she returned from receiving her brother.
"Did your useless brother like his new room?"
Empress Parandvani removed her crown and other formal jewelry.
"It isn't his chamber. I built it for my daughter-in-law."
"Which one?" the Emperor mocked.
"Would any idiot build the Empress's chamber on the first floor and the Emperor's on the third?"
He bit his tongue and pulled her onto the swing.
"Everything about this event reminds me of Anandiyan." His voice broke a little.
Empress Parandvani rested against him.
"I've been searching for him for years now. Whoever I send to Mahanad never comes back."
She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Remember - we didn't even call Adhiyavan for Anandiyan's coronation. We left him at the gurukulam. We treated him poorly."
Emperor Thejan smiled, though it cost him something.
"Everything would have gone well if he had just listened and married his betrothal -PadmaDevi. But he would never listen."
"Do you miss him too?" she asked, her eyes filling.
"He is my first son. The boy who made me Emperor. The pride of Chakra. He took Anniyur - I couldn't imagine taking it myself. He was a great commander and a great leader. And then I erased his name with my own hands. All because of love."
The palace guards knocked.
"Speak," the Emperor commanded.
"The Aadhi Regiment has arrived."
"You came here to tell me that?" The irritation was clear.
"King Aadhi is here."
The Emperor was on his feet in a second. His brother had never set foot inside the Chakran fort - he had always avoided it.
Thejan was already fastening his chain and crown, walking toward the door.
"I thought there was no one in the entire island worthy of the Emperor's welcome!"
Empress Parandvani called after him, smiling.
---
King Aadhi stood at the center of the red carpet, hands clasped behind his back, watching his regiment's perfectly coordinated march. Everyone at the coronation ground had stopped to look. The Swarpa regiment stood in quiet shame by comparison. The Uthaga regiment simply stared.
"Brother."
Emperor Thejan's voice was barely above a whisper.
King Aadhi turned and embraced his younger brother.
"Thank you for coming. I have no words for how happy I am."
King Aadhi smiled.
"What made you think I wouldn't?"
The Emperor had no answer.
"I missed your enthronement because I didn't want anyone questioning the legitimacy of a younger brother becoming Emperor. I missed your elder son's coronation because he never listened to me. I would never miss Adhiyavan's."
King Aadhi had refused to marry, not wishing to bring any complication to his brother or his nephews. He had given his life to strengthening the Chakran army.
He walked slowly.
"In Adhiyavan's case, I owe you an apology. I made several serious decisions without telling you."
The Emperor fell into step beside him.
"Are you angry with me for overseeing the warrior marriage of Adhiyavan and Sikala on the gurukulam isle? I did to Adhiyavan what Selvan did to you."
Selvan, the then-Pathukalan prince, had overseen the marriage of Thejan and Parandvani when the entire kingdom opposed it - even with Thejan's elder brother still unmarried.
King Aadhi had overseen the secret marriage between Adhiyavan and Sikala on the gurukulam isle. Only four people had been present. The Guru Prasad Ariyan co-officiated. They were wed in the warrior tradition. King Aadhi had done this because Sikala was carrying the future of Chakra, and he would not let the child be born without a father's name. King Aadhi had also refused to invade Ankala during the Ankalan war - nearly eighty percent of his loyalists in the Aadhi Regiment had refused to go. Emperor Thejan had been left with no choice but to call in the untrained Swarpa Regiment, and the Vilanur King and his soldiers. After the war, Thejan had ordered the expansion of the Swarpa Regiment. Sikala held King Aadhi in enormous respect.
Emperor Thejan nodded.
"Brother, I was a fool. I tried to kill my own daughter-in-law. I should have told you. I should have at least asked myself why you refused to lead the Aadhi Regiment in the Ankalan war."
"This is what I love about you, brother," King Aadhi said. "You admit when you are wrong."
The Emperor smiled.
"I learned it from you. And Selvan's granddaughter is here."
King Aadhi smiled.
"I would like to meet her. But first - I have a meeting to attend in the Vyabar Chamber."
"Let me walk with you."
---
"How can you wear this all day?" Kani kept adjusting her silk saree as she and Sikala walked from the Empress's chambers.
Six Chendurai guards flanked them, and Kani was uneasy around these foreign men.
Sikala smiled.
"Get used to it. Once you are in the Chakran fort, this will be your attire."
Kani frowned.
"Why would I be here?"
"If you marry your favourite person, shouldn't you live with him?"
Kani blushed.
"No. I'll be in Kalam. Let him stay here. We're working so hard to rebuild - for me to live in this furnace?"
Sikala smiled.
"I feel sorry for Adhiyavan sometimes."
Kani hurried to walk beside her.
"If you and Vanathi lived with me here, I might consider it."
"Then who would rule Ankala?"
Sikala was enjoying Kani's childlike moments. She paused and took her hand, turning to look at her.
"Before the meeting, I need a favour."
Kani frowned.
"I don't even know what the meeting is about."
Sikala took a breath.
"Amirtha oversees the Chakran finances. You've been summoned because you are the Pathukalan princess and you have a voice in Chakran financial decisions. The discussion is about Ankalan debt repayment. Each kingdom has a say in whether they want their share of the interest or not."
Kani rushed:
"No - I don't want any interest from Ankala."
Sikala was mildly exasperated, but she loved Kani's innocence.
"No, Kani. You have to go against me. You have to claim the interest share. You need to start thinking like a Pathukalan princess. It is never about you, and it never will be. Kalam needs the money. Promise me you will vote against me."
---
King Amaran of Uthaga - Amirtha's own brother - arrived at the Vyabar Chamber and sat beside King Niran. Amirtha also welcomed the Vakkanam representative and made room.
Amirtha had always controlled the finances. She had never let a king, nor even the Emperor, truly weigh in. But today, she could feel it slipping.
King Aadhi entered, followed by Emperor Thejan. The whole room rose.
Amirtha stepped back from the table. The Emperor gestured King Aadhi to the Emperor's chair at the center. Everyone acknowledged King Aadhi before the Emperor - against all royal protocol.
Emperor Thejan looked to Amirtha to give the brief.
She stood in the corner while the others sat.
"The Ankalan minister is requesting an interest reduction referendum and wishes to hear it directly from the kings and the Emperor of Chakra."
Sikala walked in with Kani, slowly, and the room looked up - surprised, all except Thejan and Amirtha.
Sikala greeted everyone. Thiran briefed her quietly. Kani stumbled through several greetings, called the kings "Prince," and forgot to acknowledge the Emperor altogether. She sat down beside PadmaDevi.
Sikala:
"The Ankalan throne will respect the Chakran decision."
Emperor Thejan ordered the responses to begin, kingdom by kingdom.
Amirtha was certain no sensible person would give up free money. She called on King Gibra first, confident in his greed. She was only uneasy about the new Pathukalan princess, who had walked in beside Sikala.
King Gibra stood with a broad smile.
"My Emperor." He bowed before Thejan. "My Kings." He bowed. "Ankalan Empress." He bowed. "And Minister Amirtha. Minister Thiran."
He acknowledged every person in the room before continuing his speech.
"The Swarpa kingdom is a place of hardworking people. We have a town that never sleeps. We are proud of many things, and not so proud of a few. If I were given a chance to change one thing and make our kingdom proud, I would not hesitate a moment. Today, I have that chance. Our share of Ankalan interest has helped develop our kingdom - but at the cost of hunger and death. As the oldest kingdom on this island, we would like to set an example. Swarpa waives its claim to the Ankalan interest."
The room was moved. Amirtha was stunned.
Queen PadmaDevi rose.
"By the grace of Chenna Devi, our kingdom and the people of Vilanur are prospering. We wish the same for our brothers and sisters across the border. The Kingdom of Vilanur waives its claim to the Ankalan interest."
Before Amirtha could react, the Vakkanam representative also waived his claim.
King Niran stood.
"I am not good at speeches. But our hundred-year prayer was answered by our gods - and carried out by the Ankalan Empress. As a token of our gratitude, we waive our rights."
King Aadhi, with a smile:
"I would also waive my right."
Amirtha had already lost five votes before she could turn to her own brother. She called on Princess Kani first.
Kani stood, flustered, glanced at Sikala -who nodded for her to go ahead.
"The Kingdom of Pathukala keeps its share of the interest."
She sat down quickly.
Amirtha was baffled. She had no idea what game Sikala was playing. Sikala's composure gave nothing away, and so no one reacted.
Finally, Amirtha turned to her brother.
King Amaran - the youngest king in the Chakran Empire, trained by King Aadhi himself.
"There is a saying that Uthagans never work."
The room laughed.
"I will agree to that. In history, Uthagans have never worked - because work is for citizens, and Uthagans were slaves."
The laughter died.
"For centuries, we were held as slaves under the Pathukalans."
Kani's eyes went wide. This had never been discussed with her.
"We were enslaved because of unfair interest. I will not let it happen to anyone else."
He slammed the table.
The Emperor waived his interest rights and signed the new scroll: interest would be reduced to one-eighth its current rate, and the principal payments could begin.
One by one, the room emptied. Thiran stood by the door holding two wooden boxes and thanked Amirtha, who stood defeated.
---
"My friend across the mountains will do everything he can to ruin my happiness - increase the watch on the Uthagan border, Kaatamaran. Stop any Sathyeran skirmishes before they start."
Adhiyavan was walking back from the stables, still dirty, still giving instructions.
They entered the palace, and Adhiyavan's eyes caught Vanathi standing alone in the Ruby Chambers.
He ran up to the first floor.
Vanathi smiled.
"So you do look at me."
Adhiyavan met her eyes.
"The winds may rest, the tides may sleep - but the eyes of a lover never will."
Sikala laughed from the doorway and startled him.
"That's what he said to me as well."
Kani appeared behind Sikala, grinning.
"That's what he said to me as well."
Adhiyavan smiled and lowered his head. The women pulled him inside and shut the door.
They made him sit on the floor while they arranged themselves on the bed, teasing him. Adhiyavan felt, somewhere underneath the embarrassment, the quiet resolution of his worst nightmare - introducing the women he loved to each other - happening without him having to do a thing.
Vanathi held a glass of Yavana madhu.
"This tastes so much better - don't give him a drop."
Adhiyavan leaned back and looked at the most important women in his life sitting right in front of him, together, smiling.
"This feels like a dream."
Kani crossed her arms.
"A bad dream."
Sikala smiled at her, then looked at Adhiyavan.
"Am I in trouble?" he asked.
"A lot of trouble," Vanathi said. "Who do you think you are?"
"Me? A simple man."
Vanathi laughed.
"A man? You haven't grown a full mustache yet - grow one first."
He smiled and reached for the cup. Vanathi pushed him back and playfully placed her foot on his chest.
"Place your right foot where you will stay - my heart."
"What about me?" Sikala placed her foot on his chest.
"And me?" Kani placed hers beside the others.
Adhiyavan pressed all three feet to his chest.
"You won't believe me. This is the happiest moment of my life."
The three women looked at each other.
"Fine. We forgive you." Vanathi handed him the glass.
---
Vanathi was an entirely different person inside that room. Sikala and Kani could both feel it.
"When we were children, we used to play in the bushes. One day all the red flowers had gone missing - and I found out this idiot had given every last one to Malar, my neighbor."
Adhiyavan smiled, remembering.
"How is Malar?"
"Married with three children. For the sake of loving you, I'm the one still unmarried - like you."
"But I'm -" He looked at Sikala.
Vanathi leaned forward.
"But what?"
He settled back and looked at Sikala.
"Have you seen his warrior sword?"
Kani understood immediately.
"Really?" She shook Sikala's arm, and Sikala turned shy.
Vanathi looked between them.
"You're serious. Both of you."
She hugged Sikala.
"But why do you two act like enemies?" She picked up the glass from Adhiyavan's hand and drank.
"It's a long story," Sikala said.
Kani jumped in:
"She's been saying exactly that all morning. Ask her - she'll say it's politics."
Adhiyavan smiled.
"Of course it's politics."
"Who would even oppose you?" Vanathi asked. "It would have been the grandest wedding in the island's history."
Kani called it:
"Politics."
Sikala laughed.
"Yes. You'll feel that heat soon enough, when you become princess of Pathukala." She turned. "And don't laugh - you'll know it too, when you become Empress one day."
Kani went still with curiosity.
"Can there be three Empresses?"
Adhiyavan, dead serious:
"Your great-grandfather Marava had sixteen."
Vanathi shot a look at Kani.
"Don't give him ideas."
Sikala continued:
"Jokes aside - when you are a ruler, your people come before you."
Vanathi cut her off.
"Stop joking."
"I'm not joking. Put them before you in wars, in hard times."
Adhiyavan shook his head.
"You're terrible."
Sikala smiled.
"This hero interrupted the Ankalan tournament and broke the faces of two princes who had framed an innocent guard."
Adhiyavan's expression sharpened.
"They proposed to my wife in front of me."
Vanathi, angling:
"Oh - what do they look like these days?"
"With a broken jaw."
"That broken-jaw prince has allied with the Sathyeran and physically insulted a king in his own land."
Adhiyavan, loose now:
"You always complain about them. Dhiran or whatever - why don't you just execute them?"
Sikala's tone shifted, just slightly.
"It's Dhiran. The prince is Nakalan. I don't command an army. I need support from other kings, and they won't move without a favour."
Adhiyavan:
"Get your own army and stop making it my problem."
Vanathi smiled.
"You two are definitely married."
Kani looked at Vanathi.
"Come on - let's go feed Kolita."
Vanathi looked confused.
"Kolita?"
"Shh - the elephant."
Kani had suggested this deliberately. Adhiyavan and Sikala were circling something heated, and she wanted to give them room.
Adhiyavan looked up.
"We'll come too." He looked at Sikala.
"No. You go."
He stood and held out his hand.
"Come on." She smiled, and started walking.
---
"Why are you walking behind us?" Kani called back.
Vanathi smiled. "Let him."
Sikala dispersed the Chendurai guards. The three women walked toward the stables, Adhiyavan trailing. Thiran stood outside and bowed at Sikala's approach. She acknowledged him and walked in.
Kani held Kolita's trunk and beckoned Vanathi closer. Vanathi had a large jackfruit in each hand and held them out.
Kani spotted Thelan - the Marithee stallion - and grinned at Adhiyavan, who had come to stand beside Sikala.
"Hey - that's Thelan."
Sikala smiled. "I had a different name for him."
Adhiyavan walked to Thelan and ran a hand along his head.
"Kani - he was Sikala's gift to me during our gurukulam days. Come here."
Kani moved toward Thelan, who recognized her immediately and responded with warmth.
Then her face changed.
"What - who is that?"
Adhiyavan was already walking back toward Sikala.
"Don't worry. That's some Ankalan garbage."
Sikala, with composure:
"Even Ankalan garbage is better than Chakran gold."
Adhiyavan smiled.
"You might want to look at it before you say that."
Kani flinched and stepped back. Sikala looked at her with a puzzled expression - Kani was still staring, horrified - and took her hand, walking her toward Thelan.
A man was there. Stripped, hands and legs bound behind him, mouth stuffed with dirty white cloth. When he saw Sikala, he began writhing urgently.
Sikala crouched and looked into his face.
"How dare you treat the Prince of Dhira like this?"
It was Nakalan. Adhiyavan had bound him and thrown him in the horse stalls.
At Sikala's words, Adhiyavan looked confused.
Nakalan began crawling toward her with something like hope.
Sikala brought her hand to his face.
"Oh, poor thing. Is this how you treat the future Emperor of Ankala?"
Adhiyavan stepped closer.
Kani and Vanathi had gone still beside Thelan, watching this dramatic couple.
Nakalan, emboldened by Sikala's apparent sympathy, began shouting at Adhiyavan - muffled through the cloth, but furious.
Sikala stood, watched Nakalan signal her to untie him.
She walked back. And kicked him between the legs.
Kani, Vanathi, and Adhiyavan stared.
She placed her foot over him.
"This idiot thinks that after everything he has done to the Ankalan throne - he thinks I would save him."
Adhiyavan swallowed hard.
Vanathi whispered: "Who is he?"
Adhiyavan looked at Sikala. "He's the one she's been asking about."
Vanathi looked at Kani.
Sikala, foot still placed:
"You want to be Emperor of Ankala?"
She spit on his head.
She walked to Adhiyavan and patted his cheek. He took one step back.
She smiled.
"Good boy. But there's something missing."
She clapped once.
Adhiyavan turned. Thiran was bringing someone across the stable floor with a jute sack over his head.
Sikala nodded. Thiran pulled it off.
Adhiyavan had a vague memory of this man.
"Elaya?"
Sikala smiled.
"Yes. These two treasonous bastards colluded with the Sathyeran, brought their commander into my heartland, and killed Malla."
Adhiyavan's arms tightened.
"Thank you for being so stupid. I used that act to formally declare Dhira an enemy of the throne. I will take these two to Chendurai to face punishment."
She commanded the Chendurai guards to bind them onto the third empty chariot.
Adhiyavan stood awestruck, completely turned around.
"So you knew the whole time?"
"Five hundred men on six ships sitting on my coast for a week - any fool would know."
His jaw dropped.
Sikala walked back to Kani and Vanathi. They giggled.
"So nagging does work," she said, and walked out of the stables.
---