"What has my friend written?" asked King Killivalavan.
"He has conveyed the news that King Nedungari, who was planning to invade Chinnamalai, had given up his plan, on learning that you would send our troupes to support Rajavarma!"
"It is good that a war has been averted. But, Nedungadi had not confronted me in a war. How did he know about me?"
"Your Majesty! Is it necessary for other kings to have fought with you, to know about your valour? Learning about your prowess and valour from the kings who had fought with you, other kings are also afraid to face you in the war front."
Killivalavan was proud to hear what the minister had said.
Killivalavan entered the garden adjoining the palace, after ensuring that no one saw him going towards the garden. Though being a king, he could seldom go to any place alone, without his security guards following him, Killivalavan managed to leave for the garden from the backdoor of his mother's residence after vising her, by giving a slip to the security guards. Some of the maids could have seen him, but he knew that they won't mention this to any one. After all, this was a scene they had been witnessing every day!
Killivalavan went near the stone platform in the garden. There was no one.
'She should have come here by this time. Why hasn't she come yet?"
"Kanchana!"called out Killivalavan, in a whispering tone.
"The mighty King, the protector of the county, is entering the garden stealthily like a thief!" said a voice that came from behind a bush.
Killivalavan looked in the direction from which the voice had come. He saw a head behind the plants.
As killivalavan advanced towards the spot, Kanchana came out from where she was hiding, pushing the plants with her hands and making way for her.
Killivalalavan stood transfixed, as if he was hit by an invisible object.
"Women don't hide what needs to be hidden" he said, after a moment.
"What are you referring to?" asked Kanchana, looking down at her attire with concern.
"A little while ago, the Minister told me that even those warriors who had not confronted me in a battle feared me, on learning about my valour from other warriors. But, when you showed your face suddenly, the glow from your brow struck me like a ray of lightning and crippled my strength for a moment!" said Killivalavan, smiling.
Section 3
Beauty that Torments
oNNudhaRkO udaindhadhE GnAtpinuL
naNNArum utkum en pIdu.
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