Karikalan took a sip from his drink and sighed. The past few days have been hell for him; how could he relax knowing that his grandfather was ready to stab him in his back anytime? He closed his eyes, massaging his temples. He should probably inform Kundavai about his grandfather's wrongdoings quickly before he and the chieftains take drastic steps.

How in the living hell did Nandini manage to turn Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer against him? That man used to say he would give his life for the kingdom. As much as Karikalan refused to believe it, that is the truth, and the truth is bitter.

Love does make a man do crazy things, he chuckled. They were not so different, Karikalan and Pazhuvettaraiyer, were they? Karikalan was ruining himself for him, wasn't he? All this is a punishment he's giving to himself, but no matter what he does the guilt inside never ceases to torment him.

Karikalan used to fantasize about an alternate reality where he didn't run behind Nandini. All the alcohol in his body was beginning to mess with his brain, so much so that illusions of Nandini appeared in front of him, smiling down at him, smugly. Her smile...it was getting on his nerves. He threw the glass of wine in his hands at "her" general direction, his jaw, clenched in anger.

"I should've never proposed to you," He murmured, he would've stayed at Thanjai, he would've gotten to spend more time with his siblings and his grandfather would've never betrayed him.

********

"Parthiba!" Vanthiyadevan called out frantically, jumping down from his horse. "Parthiba!"

"Why are you shouting out my beautiful name with your ugly voice?" Parthibendran said, placing down his newly sharpened sword.

"Where is Karikalar?" He asked.

"Even he wouldn't know where he is, how would I know?" Parthibendran muttered tiredly. "Look, I don't have time for your bromance, leave me alo--"

"Parthiba! he's in danger," Vanthiyadevan let out. As soon as he uttered those words Parthiban's face was drained out of any blood.

"What the hell?" Parthiba asked, incredulously

"Aiyooo, Parthiba, come with me,"

********

Karikalan tipped over the empty liquor jar, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Anyone here!" He called out, rubbing his temples. His head was throbbing in pain due to this...constant stress. A little later, Karikalan heard some movement outside.

"Ilavarase?" A short, stocky man stepped inside.

"Can you fill this up for me?" Karikalan asked, handing him the jar. The man nodded and took the jar in his hands. Karikalan furrowed his brows. "Do I know you?" He asked. This man is completely unfamiliar to him. Karikalan knows every single one of his men by name, a quality that is cherished by all the soldiers under his command. It creates a sense of belonging; they are like a family away from home.

"I...probably not," The man muttered. "I'm a new recruit,"

"Oh," Karikalan said curtly. "Who recruited you?"

The man stammered. "Ma...Malayaman,"

"Malayaman thatha?" Karikalan sat up straight. He did not receive any information about new recruitments.

"Yes Ilavarase," The man replied promptly.

Karikalan nodded and dismissed the man. He relaxed into the diwan again, his brows furrowed in deep concentration, racking his brain. Did Malayaman mention something about recruiting new soldiers? He didn't think so.

Karikalan's intuition proved to be right once again, the man outside was just starting to execute his devious plan, he slowly pulled out a small glass bottle from his overcoat. "Long live the Pandiyan king," He whispered, mixing the liquid in the jar of wine.

Poison.

Poison infused with poison, only that this one would send him to the heavenly abode much faster.

The man re-entered. "Ilavarase," He called out, before handing out the poison-infused liquor, Karikalan looked at him before taking the jar in his hands.

"Do you drink?" Karikalan asked, pouring the liquid in two glasses. The man inhaled sharply. "Here," He said, handing him a glass.

"No, Ilavarase..." He muttered, his hands inching towards a dagger, tucked soundly behind his back.

"C'mon, man, Give me company," Karikalan said, shoving the drink in his hands. A man clicked his tongue, his hands gripping the blade. "What are you waiting for?"  The next second the rebel whipped out his dagger and in a swift moment he slashed it blindly, Karikalan fortunately dodged it on time.

The rebel was trying desperately to get his dagger which was lunged firmly into the diwan.

Karikalan got up and kicked the man aside, "Kind of foolish to come alone no?" He said, pressing his knee against his throat. "Couldn't even give me a fight," Karikalan smirked.

"Long live the Pandiyan king," The rebel screamed at his face, Karikalan rolled his eyes

"He's dead, man," Karikalan said, nonchalantly. "Okay, tell me," He said, pressing his knee, putting more pressure on the rebel's neck, making him scream out in pain "Did Nandini send you?" He asked, "She has joined your cause, hasn't she?"

The rebel laughed hysterically. "Veera Pandiyar's wife has nothing to do with this," They knew exactly what would rile up Karikalan, and as expected a red haze clouded over the Prince's eyes. "That traitor has switched sides!"

Karikalan tried reaching out for his dagger, but it was a little too late, The rebel had already gotten hold of it and slashed his arm. A small scratch would not stop a mad elephant like Karikalan though. Before the rebel could draw blood again, Karikalan had elbowed him and pinned him to the wall, his hands firmly wrapped around his throat, choking him.

"You could kill me," The rebel said. "But there are hundreds of us," He snickered.

"I'll kill all of them," Karikalan thundered. "Starting with you,"

"You have escaped, but can your brother?"

Karikalan's eyes darkened. "Arulmozhi?" He said, his grip loosening. "What--"

"Our men have surrounded Ilankai," The rebel smirked. "Save him if you can," The rebel whispered in his ears before collapsing in Karikalan's arms.

"Hey--" Karikalan stammered, slapping the man trying to wake him up. "Shit!" He kicked the man in a rage.

"Ilavarase!" Vallavarayan and Pallavan barged in.

"Aditha," Pallavan called out, glancing at the man on the ground. "Are you okay?"

Karikalan nodded in a daze. "Arul--Arulmozhi, he's is in danger--I have to go to Ilankai--"

"Ilankai?" Parthiban asked, raising a brow.

"Now," Aditha growled.

"Aditha calm down--" Pallavan tried to console him but he was in no mood to listen, he had to get to Ilankai as soon as possible.

"Pallavan don't you understand?" He groaned, kicking the man on the ground again. "They've sent some men to kill my brother!"

"Ilavarase, Ponniyin Selvar could defend himself like you did," Vandiyadevan said, pointing at the man. "You easily killed him, didn't you, Arulmozhi Varmar is no less,"

Karikalan shook his head, pulling back his hair in frustration. "I didn't kill him, he just...died..." He muttered.

"He's just a messenger then, Aditha," Pallavan said, matter-of-factly. "They sent him to inflict fear upon you so that you'd slip up and let your guard down," He said. "He was probably bluffing,"

Karikalan was not yet convinced, he couldn't sit here and do nothing when he knows his little brother is in deep trouble, no...He had to take some action. Quick.

**********

Ilankai

"Samudra Kumari!" Arulmozhi called out desperately, scanning every inch of the woods, the thick trees made it impossible for his to identify anything and the setting sun didn't help his cause either.

Ever since she found out that he was a Prince, Poonguzhali has been acting a bit...distant. Soon after his cover was blown his friendship with her got absolutely crushed.

When he asked Amudhan what was up with her he simply just shook his head or shrugged. The poor boy was probably held at swordpoint by that adamant girl. Was being a Prince such a mistake?

Just as he was going to turn back, something caught his eye. "Poonguzhali," He whispered to himself, a small smirk dancing on the corner of his lips. She was sitting near a pond, dipping her feet in the cold, pure water.

"Why are you not talking to me," Poonguzhali jerked, almost falling into the water, thankfully Arulmozhi pulled her back.

"I thought you were a ghost," She said, trying to calm herself down.

"Am I that ugly?" Arulmozhi asked, plopping down next to her.

Poonguzhali rolled her eyes and looked away, entitled brat, she thought to herself. He has all the beauty in the world yet has the audacity to ask her a question like this.

"What did I do, Samudra Kumari?" Arulmozhi asked sadly. "You seem distant these days,"

"I'm sitting right next to you," Poonguzhali deadpanned.

"Not that distant--" Arulmozhi clicked his tongue. "Forget it, you hate me," He said, looking pitiful.

"True," Poonguzhali said, hiding her smile, Arulmozhi raised a brow, he didn't expect her to actually admit it... "You lied to me, what do you expect me to do? Love you?"

"Look--I'm sorry, I did what I had to do," Arulmozhi pleaded.

"Forget it, all men are like this," She said, moving her feet in the water slowly. Arulmozhi kept pleading with her again and again but Poonguzhali was oblivious to him. 

"You're a Prince, you have better things to do, don't you?" Poonguzhali chided.

"No, to me, asking for your forgiveness seems more important to me right now," Arulmozhi muttered, fidgeting with his hands. Poonguzhali turned away, hiding her face which was red hot.

Their "romance" was unfortunately cut short.