CHAPTER 52

TERRIBLE TIDINGS

The mandapam lay submerged in stifling silence, when the Emperor’s messenger entered it.

The new entrant was a tall, almost gaunt man and looked to have arrived straight from a battlefield. Head and face were almost covered with bandages; his clothes were spattered with red patches, bearing the impression that they were smeared liberally with blood.

These facts appeared to have registered only on the periphery of those present; their attention was wholly centred on the message he had brought, and the Emperor’s present status. They stared at the messenger, their eyes fixing themselves almost relentlessly on him.

Needless to say, one of these was Commander Paranjyothi. True, he was as eager as anyone else to know the Emperor’s message – but there was something else that bothered him: a nagging feeling that he had seen the man, before.

The messenger’s eyes roved over the assembly. In the end, they rested on the countenance of Kumara Chakravarthy – and stayed there. “Scion of the Pallavas, I bring you most important news from your father, the Emperor,” he announced. “Do I have your permission to reveal it in this assembly?”

Maamallar glanced at First Minister Saaranga Deva Battar, who took the hint at once. “Everyone assembled here is most desirous of knowing the Emperor’s message. Announce it to us, by all means.”

“Very well, then,” the messenger acquiesced. “Be warned, though – the news I bear is a terrible one.  Yet, I am bound to share it with you: the Pallava Emperor has been captured!”

It was as though a bolt of thunder had crashed down to the earth without warning, from a clear blue sky.

“What? Impossible!” shouted some. Others jumped up from their seats, startled out of their wits. The rest simply stared at the messenger, mouths agape, too stunned to utter a word.

Maamallar uttered a strangled laugh – a strange, eerie sound that set the hackles rising on those who heard it. “The Emperor – imprisoned?” His voice echoed through the assembly, harsh and strained. “How? When? By whom?” His hands crept to the sword strapped at his waist and unsheathed it, almost unconsciously.

“By Vathapi’s front-line regiment – just last evening! The Emperor was on his way here from the South, when he decided that he wished to inspect Vathapi’s forces, in the North. It appeared to be the stroke of greatest misfortune that he was imprisoned by Vathapi warriors, there. Your Highness – here is the message your father wished to give you: The time has arrived for Maamallan to display his extraordinary courage and bravery on the battlefield; it is the responsibility of my valiant son to destroy the forces of Vathapi, and secure my freedom. Such a task is well within his means, and he possesses the strength to accomplish it!” the messenger paused. “That is the sum of the message from your father.”

Maamallar took the opportunity to glare at the entire assembly, eyes burning with barely controlled fury. “Senapathi – will you graciously grant me permission to take the Pallava armies outside the fort at least now?” he bellowed, voice ringing with anger. “Will the revered and illustrious ministers condescend to give me their valued opinions? And pray, what do the kottam officials think?” he turned to take in the sight of Paranjyothi, who stood behind him, stock-still. “Why, Commander – even you seem to be struck dumb! What on earth’s the matter with you?”

The First Minister rose slowly, from his seat. “What is the proof of the veracity of this man’s statements?”

The messenger raised his hand at once, displaying the lion insignia. “This should be enough – not to mention the bruises and injuries that scar my face and body.”

“Ha! The Emperor languishes in our enemy’s prison and here we stand, arguing about proof and the truth of his messages!” he turned to Paranjyothi again. “We’ve no time to waste – Commander, are you ready?”

Paranjyothi, however, seemed to have no inclination to move. He stared hard at the messenger, dwelling particularly on his bandaged face, apparently lost in confusion.

“Has anyone here ever seen this messenger before?” queried Saaranga Deva Battar., before turning to the messenger. “Identify yourself!”

“You wish to know who I am? Fair enough. I am Emperor Mahendra Pallavar’s most trusted spy, second-in-command to Sathrugnan. The Commander here has seen me often – do you not recognize me, Paranjyothi? Do you not see that I am Naganandhi, the man who brought you to Kanchi? The Emperor bade me spy on Aayanar and Sivakami, for he entertained doubts that they might be providing valuable information to the Vathapi army – with or without their knowledge, who knows? You took the olai Aayanar gave you, and journeyed to Nagarjuna Mountain to deliver it in to Pulikesi’s hands. I informed the Emperor of this circumstance, and he snatched it away from you, in the nick of time!” The messenger threw a majestic glance at the Commander. “Do tell me – am I not right?”

Paranjyothi’s head spun. Put together – it really did seem as though a few of the things the messenger had let fall might actually be true.

“That is not all,” the messenger continued, barely giving him time to think. “There is a Vathapi spy named Gundodharan – until recently, he was in Aayanar’s company. He left to meet with the Chalukya armies yesterday, carrying a message from Aayanar. The Emperor and I followed him, to put a stop to his nefarious activities – and that was when those wretched warriors surrounded us and imprisoned the Emperor. I made my escape, thanks be to God. That is all. Mahendra Pallavar has entrusted several tasks to me; I must find Sathrugnan, to carry them out. I have told you all that I know. What needs to be done next is in your hands. Think well, my lords, and do as you please!”

He was gone almost upon his words; no one in the assembly even thought to stop or interrogate him further.

Everyone seemed, in fact, to be turned to stone.

A thousand scorpions sank their vicious barbs in Maamallar’s heart; he writhed under their pain. Ha! Were Aayanar and his precious daughter truly Vathapi’s spies? Were these the sort of people he had risked his life in the floods to save? And Sivakami – had he truly pledged his heart and boundless love to such a woman? The Emperor was now the prisoner of the Chalukyas, because of them!

Of all the men gathered in the assembly, Commander Paranjyothi was, perhaps, the only one who had even a glimmering of Maamallar’s agony. Swiftly, he grabbed hold of the prince’s hands. “There’s no more time to waste,” he said urgently. “We must be on our way to the battlefield – we will destroy those Vathapi demons and rescue the Emperor! My Lord – pull yourself together – remember the battle at Pullalur!”

The words seemed to shake Senapathi Kalippagai as well, from his stupor. “Yes, of course – the Commander is right. There is no more time to waste – I shall give the orders to rally our forces at once,” he murmured, and rose.

This seemed to be the signal for the rest of the Council to rise. “Long live Emperor Mahendra Pallavar!” shouts rent the air. “Death to the demon Pulikesi!” came other, rousing, valiant declarations.

But stay – sounds of pandemonium began to meander through the stirring chants within the mandapam. Vague and confusing noises began to reach those inside: of horses stomping about, men moving around, spears and swords clashing, a commanding voice that rose above the others, and the sound of running feet.

Something indeed was taking place in front of the mandapam, at the very moment – something momentous. Having delivered the terrible news of the Emperor’s imprisonment, the messenger had exited the assembly – only to meet the Emperor himself, riding his magnificent steed.

Mahendra Pallavar’s orders to the sentries guarding the mandapam’s entrance were immediate. “Arrest him!”

The next instant, guards surrounded the messenger on all sides.