Midnight Meeting

After the gypsy dance and the oracle dance, there was a
lavish feast for the guests. Vallavarayan Vandiya Devan
could not enjoy the banquet. His body was tired and his
mind was agitated. His friend Kandamaran, seated next to
him, pointed out the several dignitaries with pride.
Besides Lord Pazluvoor and Lord Sambuvaraya, there was
Thennavan Mazlava-raya Lord of Mazlapadi Mazluvoor;
The Elder and largest land-holder of Kunratoor had come;
then there was triple-crowned Pallava-raya. The Lords
Thanthongi Kalinga-raya, Vanangamudi Munai-raya,
Deva-senapati Poova-raya; that fearless lion, Lord Muthuraya,
double-canopied Raajali, and the chief land-holder of
Kolli Hills -- all these men were there at the banquet.
Kandamaran whispered their names into Vandiya Devan's
ears and pointed them out discretely.
These dignitaries were not ordinary men; nor was it
common to see them all assembled together in one place
like this. Each of them was a territorial chieftain; or they
had earned the distinction of territorial chieftains because
of their bravery. In those days, the title araya or raya which
was derived from the sanskrit word raja or Tamil word
arasa (meaning king) denoted nobility or royalty.
Territorial chieftains and noblemen of equal rank were
entitled to add the suffix rayan or arayan to their names.
They were also called by the name of their town with the
added title. (In fact our hero Vandiya Devan bore the name
Vallava-rayan because he was born in the noble family of
Vallam.)
But, these chieftains did not bear their titles merely
because of their noble birth and thereby enjoy the comforts
and indulgence of palace life. Only those men who were
able-bodied and brave enough to enter the battle-field
could safeguard their titles and territories. Therefore, each
of these men had not only participated in several
campaigns but they also bore the wounds of such warfare
on their bodies. Now, all these men governed their
territories or kingdoms under the suzerainty of Emperor
Sundara Chozla of Pazlayarai. Many of them were
important officials of the Chozla government.
Normally, Vandiya Devan would have felt immense
elation at having seen all these noblemen in the same
place. However, he felt no joy about it. Why have all these
men gathered together here? The question occurred to him
again and again. All sorts of garbled doubts filled his
mind.
With his mind filled with such confusion, he sought his
bed in the isolated spot readied by Kandamaran for him.
Because the palace was hosting several important
dignitaries, a tiny, covered terrace was allotted to him as a
bed-chamber.
"You seem to be very tired. Lie down and sleep well. I will
take care of the other guests and later come to sleep in this
terrace itself," said Kandamaran before going away.
As soon as he lay down, sleep swirled into Vandiya
Devan's eyes. Nitra Devi, the Goddess of Sleep took hold
of him completely. But what use? There is Mind which
cannot be conquered even by the Goddess of Sleep! Even
though his body remained still and his eyes stayed tightly
shut, thoughts buried deep in the mind blossomed into
dreams. Several meaningless incidents, happenings beyond
reason took place in that dream world.
Somewhere in the distance a lone wolf howled. One wolf
became ten wolves; hundred wolves; they all howled
together. While howling they came nearer and nearer and
nearer. In that pitch darkness their eyes burned like tiny
embers. They came closer and closer. Vandiya Devan tried
to turn around and run away to escape. But, on the other
side there were tens, hundreds, no thousands of dogs --
barking loudly, rushing towards him. The eyes of those
hunting dogs glowed like embers. What will happen to me
if I am caught in between these mad dogs and wolves?
thought Vandiya Devan and shivered.
Luckily there was a temple right in front. He ran into the
temple and pulled the door shut, bolting it hurriedly. When
he looked around it seemed to be a temple of the Mother
Goddess. A statue of Kali stood there with a horrible face
and tongue hanging out. A priest rose from behind the
statue. He held a terrible machete in his hands. "Oh! You
have come," he said as he came closer and closer.
"What is the history of your noble family? For how many
generations have your clansmen ruled their kingdom? Tell
the truth!" said the priest.
"The Vallava Rayas of the Vaanar family had ruled for
three hundred years. During my father's times we lost all
our lands to the Vaithumba kings," replied Vandiya Devan.
"Then you are not the right sacrifice. Run away," said the
priest with disgust.
Suddenly Kali turned into a statue of Krishna! Two
delightful maidens came in, singing the psalms of Saint
Andal and danced with abandon in front of the statue.
While he was enchanted with these sights, he heard the
song "We saw, we saw, we saw things pleasing to the eye,"
behind him. Turning around he saw Azlvar-adiyan Nambi.
Yes it was him singing. Oh no. Not him; it was just his
head that sang. The severed head was placed on the
sacrificial alter!
Unable to bear this sight, Vandiya Devan turned away.
Upon turning, he banged his head upon the pillar. The
dream melted away. Eyes opened. But he saw a sight that
seemed to mix reality with dreams.
In a spot directly in front of his terrace, he could see the
fortress walls of Kadamboor palace; he could see a head
on top of these walls. It was the head of that very same
Azlvar-adiyan Nambi. This time he realized that it was
neither a dream nor a hallucination. Because, however
long he stared at it, the head remained there. It was not
merely a head, there was a body behind it. He could easily
detect both hands of Azlvar-adiyan holding on to the wall.
In addition, the fellow was staring rather intensely at
something below, inside the wall.
What is he looking at so earnestly, inside there? ... There is
some kind of deception and intrigue in this. Azlvar-adiyan
could not have come here with good intentions. He must
have come here with vile plans to perform some evil deed.
Is it not my duty, being Kandamaran's dearest friend, to
stop this wickedness? How can I sleep in idleness without
guarding the house of these folks who have fed and housed
me tonight? Vallavarayan jumped up. He picked up a knife
in its sheath lying on his side and stuck it in his waistband.
He walked towards the direction in which he saw
Nambi's head.
Remember, he was sleeping in a corner of the upper
terrace? From there as he walked towards the outer walls
of the palace, he had to go around several turrets, pillars
and decorative rooftops. After walking on for a while he
suddenly heard the sound of voices talking somewhere
nearby. He hesitated. Hiding himself behind a pillar he
peeped down below.
In a narrow courtyard enclosed by tall walls he saw about
ten or twelve men seated comfortably. The towering walls
hid the rising moonlight. However, an iron oil-lamp buried
in the wall gave some light. All the men seated there were
the dignitaries he had met at the banquet earlier; the
chieftains and elder officials of the Chozla Empire.
They must have gathered in this midnight conference to
discuss some important matter. Azlvar-adiyan must be
trying to spy upon what they were saying and doing, by
hanging on the outer walls. There is no doubt about the
fact that Azlvar-adiyan is a very shrewd and clever fellow.
From where he was positioned on the wall, Azlvar-adiyan
could more or less see all the men seated in conference
below. He could hear their talk very well. But the men
seated there could not see Azlvar-adiyan. The courtyard
and palace wall were situated in that fashion! Somehow,
the fellow had chanced upon such a perfect spot.
Capable fellow. No doubt! But all his cleverness will not
work with this Vandiya Devan of the Vaanar clan.
Somehow, I must get hold of that masquerading Vaishnava
fanatic .... but if I am to catch him, I cannot do so without
attracting the attention of the men assembled below. I have to cross the courtyard before I can reach those walls. There
may be some danger in crossing the courtyard in full view
of those men.
He recalled the words of Sambuvaraya saying "He need
not have come here, today of all days."
These men are gathered here to discuss something
important. It is clear that they do not want anyone to know
what their discussions are about. In such a situation if they
suddenly see me, they will start suspecting me. By the time
I explain about Azlvar-adiyan he would have jumped off
the wall and escaped. All that will remain is the doubt
about me. If they ask, "Why did you, who were supposed
to be sleeping, come here?" what can I reply? I will
definitely put Kandamaran in a delicate position. There!
Even Kandamaran is part of this meeting; he is seated at
the back. If I ask him in the morning I can know all.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Vandiya Devan
saw a covered palanquin resting in one corner of the
courtyard below him. Is this not the same palanquin that
came behind Lord Pazluvoor and his elephant? That lady
who was in it, who parted the curtains to peep outside, I
wonder where she is now. I believe the old man did not
even send her to the women's apartments. This is the
predicament if somewhat older men marry very young
girls. Suspicion drains their very life. They cannot bear to
be parted from their young wives even for one moment!
Perhaps even now, Pazluvoor's Young-Queen is in this
palanquin! Gosh! Look at the fate of this great warrior! At
this age, he is enslaved by a slip of a girl and is on tenderhooks.
She is not all that great a Rathi, Menaka or Ramba
(heavenly beauties).
No, Vandiya Devan had not forgotten the feeling of
distaste which he experienced when he had seen her by the
roadside. I wonder what this brave Lord Pazluvoor sees in
her? More surprising is this Azlvar-adiyan's madness.
Maybe he is waiting on that wall because this palanquin is
here. What is the relationship between him and her? How
can I know? Perhaps she is his sister; or maybe his
sweetheart. Maybe Lord Pazluvoor forcefully abducted
her. He is capable of doing such things. Maybe this fellow
is wandering around trying to find an opportunity to meet
her and talk to her. Why should I bother about all this. Let
me go back to sleep, thought Vandiya Devan.
Just as he made this decision he heard his name being
uttered down below. Immediately he began to listen with
some interest.
"That fellow who came in saying that he was a friend of
your son? Where is he sleeping? He should not hear
anything that we utter here. Remember that he serves the
Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Armies. Till all our
plans are complete and the time for action arrives, no one
should know about our plans. Even if there is the slightest
suspicion that this fellow knows something, he must not be let outside this fortress. In fact it would be better to put a
complete end to his activities ..."
Our readers can guess how Vandiya Devan felt upon
hearing these words. But he did not move away from the
spot. He made up his mind to listen to all their talk.
Who was the Northern Commander-in-Chief? It was none
other than the eldest son of Emperor Sundara Chozla.
None other than the Crown Prince, next in line for the
throne. Why should these fellows object to my serving that
Prince? What is it that they are planning that must be kept
secret from the Prince?'
At that moment Kandamaran intervened for his friend:
"Vandiya Devan is sleeping peacefully in the corner
terrace. He cannot hear the discussions in this meeting. He
will not interfere in things that do not concern him. Even if
he hears something he will not hinder your plans in any
way. I will be responsible for that."
"I am happy that you trust him so much. But none of us
know of him or his credentials. That is why I warned you.
What we are going to discuss now is about the rights of
succession to a large empire. Even if one whisper gets out
because of carelessness it may lead to severe
consequences. All of you must remember this," said Lord
Pazluvoor.