Kundavai listened to the Pallava Arasan boasting about his supposed bravery on the battlefield absent-mindedly. She was utterly tired of him.

"You said you saved my brother?" She asked. "All alone?"

"No, Illaya Piratti, I would not take all the credit, the Vanar Kulla ilavarasar helped a bit too." Pallavan said before adding proudly. "But it was I who got rid of the rebels."

Kundavai knew he was lying just by looking at him, but she did not want to pop his bubble. "Vanar Kulla Ilavarasar?" She asked, curiously. Vanathi giggled to herself at the shift in Kundavai's demeanor as soon as she heard the name.

"Sorry." Vanathi apologized, grinning.

"Yes, Ilavarasi," Parthibendran nodded. "He's of no importance, though."

"I would wish to meet him, and thank him for helping you save my brother."

"Oh," Pallavan breathed, disappointedly. "I would see to it." He would not.

"If there is nothing else..." Kundavai trailed off, wanting for him to leave. Parthibendran knew he overstayed his visit and got up, clasping his hands, he bowed graciously.

"I'll take my leave." He said before walking out, his face red.

Kundavai sighed and rubbed her forehead, oh god he went on forever.

"He loves you." Vanathi noted.

"I wouldn't call that love," She shrugged.

"Then? What is love to you Akka?" Vanathi asked. Kundavai thought about it for a bit. She has never loved anyone, well...she never had the time for it either.

"I do not know, Maybe you should ask Arulmozhi about it."

Vanathi blushed and turned away. "Akka..."

Kundavai laughed merrily at her shyness. "Oh Vanathi, you never change."

********

Vallavarayan roamed around the palace grounds, dripping with sweat, where was this bloody horse?

"Semba!" He called out again, leaning against a wall to catch his breath. He was going to sell that damn horse right after he catches him. He walked alongside the anthapuram walls, soon lost in thought, thinking about how beautiful the women of Chozha Nadu looked. The beautiful princesses who had come to greet their Crown Prince, Vandiyadevan blushed just thinking about them, how did the Prince keep a straight face? He did not even bat an eye at them.

Unfortunately he couldn't get a good look at his sister, Parthibendran used to speak so highly of her and he was dying to meet her. Just then, he spotted Semban amongst the bushes of the Anthapuram's garden.

Like master, like horse.

"Semba!" Vandiyadevan shouted as he approached the doorway. He was stopped by two guards, looking uninterestedly at him. "Aiya, My horse escaped and I'm trying to get him."

One of the guards sighed. "I don't see a horse."

"Open your big owl-like eyes and see behind that bush," Vandiyadevan snapped, but just before the guard could see, Semban escaped.

"Thambi, why are you lying?"

Vandiyadevan looked offended. "Lying? Me? Are you accusing Karikalar's friend of lying?"

The guards broke into a fit of laughter. "Karikalar's friend? You?"

He straightened up a bit, his chin held high. "Yes?"

"Thambi, it's late, go sleep." He said.

"If I was lying I would've jumped the wall like the guys I saw earlier," He lied, eyeing their reaction. "But I am not so--"

"Jumped the wall like who?"

"I don't know, they were going to the treasury, I suppose, they had black clothes over their face so I couldn't really see them." Vallavarayan made up a story.

The guards looked at each other, tensed. "Thambi, stay here." They said before rushing away to warn the other guards. Vallavarayan looked at them leave and casually slipped inside the anthapuram, smirking at his own geniousness.

"You're so smart," He whispered, admiring himself. "Semba?" He whispered, looking around cautiously. He would be beaten to death either by Karikalar or the women here if he was discovered.

Oh god who was Semban tormenting right now? He took shelter behind some stairs for a quick break. Chills ran down Vallavarayan's spine when he felt a cold metal tip pressed against his neck.

"Who are you?" The sweet voice asked. Vallavarayan relaxed a bit.

"Who are you?" He asked back.

"Shall I call the guards?" She threatened, pressing the tip in slightly, making him wince.

"Amma, I came in search of my horse, have you seen him?" Vallavarayan asked.

"I am not so easily tricked like the guards, tell me, Who. Are. You?"

Vallavarayan gulped, but he did not feel really threatened by the voice. "You sound nice." He complimented, he sensed the girl hesitate. Her feet shifted, making her anklets chime.

"You have yet to answer my question." She asked calmly, her divine voice filling the room.

"I'm Karikalar's friend. I've fought many wars with him." He said proudly.

"Not everyone who fights alongside the Prince are his friends." She said softly, not buying his lies.

"He treats us like one," He shrugged. "Amma, I'm not lying, I've come with the Prince, did you not see me?"

"No." She whispered, her bangle-cladded hands holding the sword. The jingles sounded like music to Vallavarayan's hears.

Vallavarayan felt insulted. "I'm the Vanar Kulla Ilavarasan, Vallavaraya Vandiyadevan." He said, waiting for her reply, but he could hear nothing but her staggered breathing.

"Vanar Kulla Ilavarasan?"

"Yes, Amma." He said, he felt her grip loosening.

"I've heard about you," She said, getting up. "You saved the Prince yes?"

Vallavarayan nodded, trying to to see her face. "I didn't do it alone, Amma. The Pallavan Arasar helped a lot."

"But you were the one who fought off the rebels." She said, leaning against the balcony.

Vallavarayan walked toward in slow careful steps, not wanting another sword tip to be pointed against his neck. Her dark hair was beautifully lit by the moonlight. "May I know who you are, Penne?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "It's up to you to find out."

"How would I if you keep hiding your beautiful face away from me?"

"How do you know I'm beautiful?" She taunted. "You haven't seen me yet."

"I've heard the women of Chozha Nadu are beautiful," He flirted. "Plus, A beautiful voice like that deserves a beautiful face."

She bit her lip. "It's getting late, the guards will cut you up into pieces if they found you here, leave."

Vallavarayan felt a tinge of disappointment, he had to know what she looked like. "But my horse--"

"I'll find him, you'll get him by dawn."

Vallavarayan looked skeptical but nodded. "Don't sell him off will you? He's about the only thing I own."

"What profit would I find from selling you horse?"

Vandiyadevan felt stupid for his sentence. She was probably a princess or such. "D-do you know the Illaya Piratti?" He enquired.

"I...do? Why?"

"Nothing, I'm asking for a friend." He shrugged, climbing down the ladder. "The Pallava Arasar is in love with her."

"Is he?" The voice drawled. Vallavarayan's foot hit the ground just then.

"Will I meet you again?" He asked, looking up at her, but she was already out of his line of sight.

"Maybe, maybe not."

*********

Karikalan stared at Vandiyadevan, rubbing his forehead frustratedly as he dealt with the guards. "He's my friend. And he was with me the whole night, it couldn't have been him who tricked you." He said bitterly, glaring at Vallavarayan who was shrinking in the corner of the room with shame. How many times can he save him?

The guards couldn't argue with him, so they bowed curtly and left. Vandiyadevan let out a sigh.

"Do not sigh so soon, Vallavaraya." Karikalan sighed. "What were you doing at the Anthapuram?"

"I was really searching for my horse, I promise, Ilavarase." Vandiyadevan argued.

Pallavan scoffed, earning him a side-eye from Karikalan.

Karikalan patted his shoulder. "Saw anyone you fancied?" He asked, pouring in his drink. Vallavarayan blushed slightly, looking away. "My question is yet to be answered."

"I...Maybe," He shrugged, Pallavan raised a brow. "I didn't catch her name, nor see her face." He sighed.

"Don't worry Vallavaraya, you'll meet her again if she's destined to you." Karikalan said, patting his back.

"How would I know if it's her?" He asked.

Karikalan shrugged. "You would just...know." He said, looking down. "You would feel her presence." Karikalan swallowed harshly.