Translator's Note: All right, all right, I take all the brick-bats with equanimity :-) I haven't been translating the whole book (wish I had) - just caught up with other things. Bear with me, please - I'll start posting more regularly from now on (and no snide remarks about empty promises!). Thanks for checking in often - and giving me with enough incentive to go on translating. Sometimes, you need something other than a sheer love for translation, to go on.

So...will Maamallar finally meet Sivakami? What's Paranjyothi's life likely to be like, in the future? What're the Emperor's sentiments? (Sounds like the start of a soap-opera, I know - but I couldn't resist it.:-)

And now, what you've all been waiting for...

CHAPTER 16

PREPARATIONS FOR A SEIGE

While Kamali and Kannabiraan had been squabbling and cajoling alternatively in their little cottage, Empress Bhuvana Mahadevi, Crown Prince Maamallar, and Commander Paranjyothi were seated in a mandapam facing the Royal family's private quarters, in the Palace, arguing back and forth - albeit amiably.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince may have been bemoaning his misfortune in having to stay away from the battlefield for eight long months—for my part, I see no reason for such gloom and misery. I've been surveying the ramparts and city walls for a while, now—they've been well-fortified, even beyond my expectations. The Crown Prince has managed to convert a rather weakened structure into something akin to a brand-new fort! I doubt if even Lord Indra and Vhruddaasuran with all their combined forces and sophisticated celestial weaponry could attack this city—so you can imagine what I feel about an ordinary, mortal Durvineethan of Thalaikkaadu. He won't stand a chance!" declared the commander, emphatically.

The Empress smiled. "Has he, indeed? Paranjyothi, I depend on you to tell me every single detail about the fortifications, and what Maamallan has done towards strengthening the city—for Maamallan never tells me anything. He, I suppose, believes that a woman's place is in her home, and that such defenceless creatures need to know nothing about wars and fortifications!"

The Crown Prince threw her an anguished look. "Amma, do but consider the truth of your statement. Are you, in reality, quite as vulnerable as you portray? It's I, on the contrary, who've been commanded to stay inside the Royal Palace- for all the world as though I'm a defenceless, cringing female, without an ounce of strength or courage!" He wrung his hands miserably. "That I should be treated this way by own father, of all people...!"

"My child, it isn't right that you should speak thus about your father. I have faith in the Emperor's impeccable judgement—no doubt, there was a just reason for placing you here, the way he did..." Scarcely had the Queen finished, than Commander Paranjyothi spoke up.

"Indeed, your Majesty—your speak nothing but the truth. I've never seen anyone to equal his majesty's foresight or judgement in all the fourteen worlds that exist in our Universe!"

Crown Prince Narasimha Varmar glared at them both. "Ha. So you've decided to gang up on me, have you? Excellent—I may as well join you then, in singing the Emperor’s praises. While I admit that His Majesty has been blessed with the gift of prescience and admirable vision, I must beg to point out that King Simha Vishnu, his father, was blessed with even more foresight— for it was he, if you remember, who crowned Durvineethan's father as King-which he did in person, by journeying all the way to the Ganga Kingdom! And now, you may see for yourself the immense gratitude Durvineethan bears for such a selfless act. Lions such as Mahendra Varmar and Pulikesi fight wars on unheard-of scales on the battlefield—while despicable jackals such as Durvineethan sidle in, trying to share in a piece of the magnificent Pallava Empire! And he's so eager to do so that he’s journeying day and night, I've heard, with, apparently, no rest to his forces. And I—I have to stay inside these blasted city-walls, worrying myself to flinders, unable to do anything, as that little worm speeds his way to Kanchi…while you recline on cushions, praising the Emperor’s foresight to the skies. Oh, for the love of God in heaven - I'm practically burning with shame and frustration!" With which remarkable outburst, Narasimhar sat back, fuming. His breathing was erratic, and his eyes sparkled with anger, turning a furious shade of crimson.

"Little one, you distress yourself needlessly," spoke the Queen, in comforting tones. "I too, am grieved over this ingratitude on Durvineethan's part, and the Gangapaadi Kingdom he represents...but there's a time and place for everything, is there not?"

At this point, commander Paranjyothi intercepted the conversation. "Devi, I'm sure the Emperor Mahendra Pallavar has already devised a plan to deal with Durvineethan- as, no doubt, he always has, when confronted with such traitors and ingrates..."

"Ah, I've no doubt either, that the Emperor will formulate devious plans to deal with such as Durvineethan- and will carry them out, too, to perfection," the Crown Prince's voice fairly dripped with sarcasm. "The question is, what am I doing here, in the Royal Palace, surrounded by comforts, and bearing such names and titles as Yuvaraja, Kumara Chakravarthy, and Maamallan, wrestler to beat all wrestlers? Amma, I'm worse than cowardly Uthara Kumaran of Mahabharata—he, at least, lost his nerve and ran away from the battlefield, after first setting foot in it—while I haven't even seen one yet! Oh, if some misguided poet took it into his head to spin out today's political situation into an epic, how he would praise my erstwhile martial talents, and sing about my war-time exploits! As for you..." He glared at his audience again, "In spite of all this...both of you still insist that I maintain my calm and dignity, and wait in patience until further orders!" By this time, Narasimhar’s anger had worn itself out. Exhaustion was evident in his brave, young face, and tears glistened at the ends of his eyes.

Unable to look his friend in the face, Commander Paranjyothi turned to the Empress, addressing himself to her. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's comparison of himself with Mahabharata’s Uthara Kumaran is as silly as it is inaccurate. What did the cowardly Prince do, after all, while his elders and betters were fighting it out on the battlefield? Why, he chose to lie about on his cushions in the Palace, watching his sister hone her skills in classical dance forms! Maamallar hasn't spent his time in such a worthless fashion, has he?"

Almost as soon as the commander uttered the words, all three of them remembered Sivakami, and her remarkable proficiency in the southern dance form, Bharathanatyam. Narasimha Varmar's face clouded over.

Realizing instinctively that he had erred with the mention of Bharathanatyam, Paranjyothi rallied his emotions, and leapt into the breach. "Besides, war hasn't even started yet, in earnest. War of such impressive dimensions that it will throw even the Mahabharata episode into something resembling a puny combat is looming on our horizons...there'll be ample circumstances in which to prove Maamallar's valour and courage, won't there?"

"Oh, enough! A thousand wars may cross our horizons, and a million warriors may get opportunities to exhibit their talents...what's the guarantee that my father will allow me to participate in this one?" came Narasimhar's furious response.

Empress Bhuvana Mahadevi was nothing, if not tactful. Sensing her son's fractious mental state, she turned the topic deftly. "Paranjyothi, you haven't told me about Maamallan's fortification of the city, yet," she reminded, gently.

Commander Paranjyothi was nothing if not perceptive, and duly took his cue. "My lady, you've seen the moat that surrounds our fortress walls, haven't you?"

"I have—however, that was eight months ago. I haven't set foot outside the Royal Palace, ever since the Emperor left the city for the war-front."

"I hadn't seen it since my first visit here eight months ago, either—my memory of what I saw then, was of a narrow little stream, with little water, and looking relatively easy to cross. But now, my Lady...! Now, it looks like an ocean run amuck, with water lapping in great waves at the side, and crocodiles yawning along the surface, snapping their sharp teeth. I wonder how many Vathapi soldiers will find their way to salvation, aided by those reptiles," Paranjyothi mused.

"But...that might happen only if they chose to climb into the moat. What if they made their way across, using bridges?"

"My Lady, five thousand of our best archers will be secreted in the fortress walls, forming a welcoming committee for those who do cross with the aid of bridges. Assuming that the Vathapi soldiers do cross, they'll tumble into more than one surprise, before they even reach the fortress wall. Gaping holes, concealed cleverly will break legs; unseen traps, contraptions and neatly designed nets will account for a good many more. And even if they ever mange to reach the fortress wall, after all this, they'll find tons of boulders descending on their heads...!"

"I've heard reports that the Vathapi army accounts for millions of soldiers, Paranjyothi—and is as enormous as an ocean...couldn’t so many warriors make their way through the moat here and there, and reach the fortress, using their ingenuity?"

"Assuming they're as ingenious as all that, they certainly will try to get through the moat. The fortress, however, is another proposition altogether."

"I have heard of elephants being used to cross moats, and batter down the gates of fortresses...what if the Vathapi army uses the same tactic? Will the gates of our fortress—any fortress—be able to withstand the onslaught of those massive animals?” queried the Queen.

At that question, memories of long ago flooded Paranjyothi’s mind, and he broke into merriment.

"My lad, why the laughter?" enquired the Empress.

Chuckling, Paranjyothi explained. "I couldn't help myself—it was your question that started it, my Lady. What you've heard through these reports is quite true—the mighty soldiers of Vathapi are certainly going to try such a tactic. They're going to try and bail out the waters of the moat, enough to get across—or they'll construct make-shift ridges to cross over to the fort. And then, they'll usher in their massive elephants to batter down the gates of our fortress-for which purpose, they'll pour down barrels of liquor down those poor animals' throats. But then...ah! Those elephants will have the surprise of their collective lives; I'm choked with laughter just thinking about the stampede that'll ensue among the Vathapi soldiers themselves, when the animals are attacked with spears from the crevices and embrasures all around the gates of the fort! And that, my Lady, is not all; there're bound to be a few elephants which will escape the assault of spears and other weapons, aren't they? Well, they will get quite an unpleasant surprise if they finally do batter down the gates-for they will rush headlong into another set of gates, which will have any number of sharp spear-points attached to the surfaces...ah! The speed at which those elephants will go roaring back among their own will be far greater that the one in which they came in, in the first place, won't it?"

"Is that so?" asked the Empress, filled with astonishment.

Narasimhar, who had been content to merely listen to the conversation all the while, chose this moment to take part in it. "Yes, mother...but our friend hasn't revealed the inspiration for these defence tactics, has he? Well, it's the most illustrious Commander Paranjyothi himself, who was responsible for the installation one of our more memorable defence strategies. You do remember, don't you, the incident that happened eight months ago—when Paranjyothi threw his spear at the crazy elephant, causing it to retreat? Well, a day after that, nearly every ironsmith worth the title began to produce spear-points in enormous numbers. Once, appa told me that the idea of countering Vathapi's drunk elephants arose in his mind from Paranjyothi's novel method of defence," the Crown Prince threw a look of mingled affection and pride at his young friend, giving him a quick embrace.

“Yesterday, my lady, I was surveying the work of Kanchi’s ironsmiths in the past eight months—and I’ll have to admit that they have made an impressive production, literally creating thousands of finely honed spears…indeed, your Majesty, I freely concede, here and now, that Kanchi’s ironsmiths are among the cleverest in the land! For they’ve managed to reproduce those spears, based on the specifications of my own Chozha spear—I, myself, was deceived by the remarkable resemblance and finesse. When I journeyed northwards, I’d gone with the impression that the spear I held was my own—it was only after came back here that I realised my folly, and that Maamallar had been keeping my spear for me, until my return. The Crown Prince’s theory of having wasted away the past eight months is ridiculous, Madame…his efforts at strengthening the fortress, and preparing it for a possible siege are nothing if not magnificent. Two years worth of grains and pulses have been brought into the city, in preparation for a lengthy siege—and plenty of unnecessary loiterers, and people who’ve no business inside the city have been moved out. I’ll have to mention, in particular, about the remarkable feat of having moved the Kapalikars out of Kanchi—they were a particularly unwelcome presence, here. The strategy employed by Kumara Chakravarthy to carry out this plan was what particularly impressed me—yesterday, he actually ordered the closure of all the liquor shops in the city…lo and behold! Dozens of Kapalikars could be seen, wearing their trademark skulls and bull-horns, straggling across the city streets, on their way out of the northern city gates…”

As Paranjyothi went on with his recital, a young servant girl approached the Empress Bhuvana Mahadevi, bending down and discretely whispering a few words into the lady’s ears.

The Empress straightened, her countenance clearly displaying her enthusiasm and delight. “Narasimha, my child…it appears that Sathrugnan has arrived just this instant, with a message from your father!” She exclaimed.

As the Crown Prince rose in his haste to meet the messenger, the aged Queen rested a hand on his arm, restraining him slightly. “My child, will you not wait for him here? I should like to listen to Sathrugnan’s message too,” she spoke.