The thief who steals hearts

Ilankai

Arulmozhi was caught off guard by an ambush, hell, why did they have to ruin a moment as beautiful as this? He cursed under his breath as another set of arrows were launched in their direction.

Arulmozhi took Poonguzhali's hand and rushed into the forest quickly, pushing away the branches and twigs making way for Poonguzhali behind him, Arulmozhi initially feared that Poonguzhali might struggle to keep up, but she was right on his tail, her speed was impeccable. This girl never ceased to amaze him.

Around them, He could only hear footsteps rushing around him here and there and occasional whispers, they were well hidden, unfortunately.

Poonguzhali looked around, ducking her head as an arrow whizzed past, just inches away from her ear. Arulmozhi's heart dropped, he did not wish to have an innocent girl's blood on his hands. Arulmozhi slid down a mound and gave a hand to Poonguzhali.

He looked up, hoping the canopy above would give them a shield from the incoming arrows. He led her to a cavity in the mound.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, concerned, looking for any sort of injury. He let out a sigh of relief to find no major injuries other than some scratches from the bushes and twigs. The bastards didn't even dare to fight him face-to-face.

Poonguzhali shook her head, still in a daze, everything happened so quickly. "Are they gone--" Before she could finish her sentence the duo felt the whole ground beneath them tremble, almost pushing Arulmozhi off his feet.

"Retreat!" He heard a man scream. At first, he thought they were Mahindhan's men, but their accents seemed different...Arulmozhi concluded that his attackers were not from Ilankai.

Only a mad elephant can cause a tremble this big, Arulmozhi thought, peering through the bushes. Chaos unfolded, the attackers tried desperately to contain the elephant but failed miserably, even a trained elephant whisperer would struggle to contain a mad elephant as such, what would these guys do against it?

Arulmozhi contemplated helping them, but alas the men escaped with their heads intact. He sighed and looked down but something else caught his eye, the elephant was not alone...

"Poonguzhali?" Arulmozhi called out, she was busy assessing her wounds. "Poonguzhali!" He called out again, She looked back at him and joined Arulmozhi at the top of the mound, he pointed at the old woman on top of the elephant.

"That's my aunt," Poonguzhali said, how did she get here? The women began to drive the elephant into the forest.

"Amma!" Arulmozhi called out, trying to follow her, but the women seemed oblivious to his calls.

"It's useless, she's deaf," Poonguzhali said, a look of disappointment washed over his face.

**********

Thanjai

Vanathi's life only returned to her after Arulmozhi's letter, she returned to her cheerful self after pestering Kundavai and crying her eyes out for a whole month or two. Now that she is all normal, she noticed a small change in her sister. She has been... distracted. Something's not right.

Vanathi and Kundavai were sitting in their usual spot, under a huge tree overseeing the lake. Autumn was just around the corner, the flowers were seen slowly drifting in the air, carrying their mesmerizing smell with them. This was Kundavai's favorite time of the year, but she couldn't enjoy it fully, even with her favorite person around, her mind and heart were occupied with something else, which Vanathi was determined to find out.

Kundavai was pulling on some grass while Vanathi rambled about her day, this is what she meant when she said Kundavai was distracted.

"Akka," Vanathi called out to no avail. "Akka!" She called out again, shaking her sister's shoulders.

Kundavai finally snapped out of her dreamland. "Haan," She mumbled, sitting up straight. "What do you want?"

"You're distracted, Akka," She said, a small smile playing around her lips. "Who are you thinking about?" Vanathi asked, moving closer to Kundavai. Vanathi loves good gossip, well...who doesn't? Her thozhipengal gossip about men all day, every day. Nothing beats the feeling of sitting around your friends, talking and laughing.

Most of the gossip used to be about Vanathi and Arulmozhi, her thoughts fuelled her fantasies with their stories and tauntings, poor Vanathi never realized they were extremely jealous of her.

"I'm not," Kundavai said.

"Oh c'mon," Vanathi exasperated. "I know you really well, Akka," Vanathi said, she had spent most of her childhood with Kundavai since there would be no one back home for her company after her parents died.

"Akka, tell me, what are you thinking about?" Vanathi asked, before Kundavai could answer, Vanathi interrupted. "No wait, let me guess," She paused, smiling. "You're thinking about the Pallava arasan, right?"

Kundavai scrunched up her nose. "Hell no!" She said, gently slapping Vanathi's arm.

"Then?"

"Then, nothing," Kundavai said, getting up, Vanathi followed her.

"Akka, tell me, please! I won't tell anyone, I swear!" She kept asking, and Kundavai kept declining. Telling Vanathi a secret would be equivalent to sending an olai to Thanjai with ten drum messengers.

"If you don't tell me now--I--I--uh--" Vanathi blabbered, trying to find something to use as leverage against Kundavai.

"You what? Not talk to me?" Kundavai asked nonchalantly.

"Akka..." Vanathi whined, she couldn't even last an hour without taking Kundavai.

"Look, Vanathi, if he comes back you'll be the first one to know," Kundavai said. With that, she put an end to Vanathi's curiosity and her own desires.

Vallavarayan was a warrior, who knows what would happen to him at any given time? She knew Karikalan would not let a thing happen to his friend...but still? She has seen her mother, Vanavan Madevi worrying about her father whenever he went to war, Now, Vanathi is worried sick about Arulmozhi even before their marriage.

Kundavai once swore never to fall in love with a warrior, but fate had something else in store like always.

*******

Kanchi

Karikalan stated at an olai one of his spies had sent him. Things were getting tense in Thanjai; his father's health was declining, and Pazhuvettaraiyer was swiftly gaining support from other feudal lords and Chieftains to work in favor of Madhuranthakan.

From where would Madhuranthakan source his men though? Karikalan wondered. Would they really dare to assassinate him? Would they imprison his father?

Adithan was getting restless, how could he focus when the pillars of Chozha Nadu were plotting behind his back? He had to know what was happening in Kadambur.

"I can go to Thanjai and inform ilaya pirattiyar about this? Maybe she can help" Parthibendran suggested.

"No," He said, curtly. "I want you by my side," Karikalan said, burning the olai in a nearby lamp. "I'm sending Vallavarayan,"

Pallavan felt a hint of jealousy, how was the Prince entrusting a job this big to...him?

"Don't you think...we should hand this job to someone more sincere?" Pallavan said.

"Who?" Karikalan deadpanned, turning back. "I only have you, Vallavarayan, and my grandfather, Malayaman" He said, walking towards Pallavan. "I need you and thatha by my side for our next conquest..." Karikalan scratched his brow. "And to be honest, Vallavarayan's wit is unmatched, he'll escape from the clutches of the lord of death himself,"

Pallavan snickered, "Yeah sure,"

"Are you doubting my decision?" Karikalan deadpanned. Pallavan shook his head hesitantly.

"N-no," He murmured, looking down.

*******

A/N

Yelloo, a little boring chapter, just wanted to get the ball rolling before some...pretty major stuff happens!

Next update is getting cooked really fast, stay tuned.