"Are you insane, woman? How can we carry an elephant in this boat?" Kani stood baffled as the ferry merchant ignored her request.
"Don't waste your time here. Go back to your forest — we have to be at the Chakran Fort. They say the feast has already started."
Kani called out to the ferryman as he unwound the ropes.
"I'm also going to the Chakran Fort. In fact, this is a gift for Adhiyavan."
The ferryman stared at her.
"Don't call our Prince by his name. If those sleeping Gandar squad goons hear it, they will kill you." He looked at Kani with pity. "You're gifting our prince?" And he jumped onto his ferry and started rowing.
"Please don't go — there are no other ferries."
He drifted into the river.
"That's what I am saying — there is no one here. Go back to your forest and take that elephant with you!"
Kolita was bathing, pouring water over herself with her trunk.
Kani sat on the ghat, staring at the empty river, thinking about what Tabi had said.
Not one Pathukalan was interested in coming to Adhiyavan's coronation — even Tabi had disappointed her. Go alone if you want, he had said. Some Pathukalans had moved to Kalam and started the clearing work, and as Adhiyavan had promised, he had sent three hundred men to assist. Some were busy, some hated her, and like always, Kani was at the crossroads.
Two shipping boats, considerably larger, approached. Kani stood up.
"Do you want to cross that elephant?" asked the older man — dirty white shirt, thick white beard, his left eye clouded white. A younger man in a blue dhoti stood beside him.
Kani's face turned eager and she nodded yes.
The old man whispered something into the young man's ear, and the young man went to the boat.
"It has been at least forty years since an elephant crossed the Chenna River. These ferrymen know nothing but money. What a pride, to carry an elephant."
Kani smiled and watched the young man lash the two boats together.
"Does your elephant have a name?" the old man asked, as Kolita dried herself and walked toward Kani.
"Her name is Kolita." Her face softened as the old man walked toward Kolita.
"No, she is not friendly." The old man paused, suspicious.
"Bring Kolita to the boats slowly. My grandson will help you cross her."
Long batons were laid across both boats, forming a platform, and the young man asked her to stay close to Kolita at all times.
Kani held Kolita by the trunk.
"You don't look like an Agam tribe girl," the old man said.
"But I am!" She smiled and slowly made Kolita walk toward the boat. Kolita was stubborn and refused to step onto the platform.
Kani handed her coin pouch and scroll to the young man, stepped onto the platform first, and called Kolita forward.
Kolita took a step and the boat trembled. The young man rushed to stand at the centre, holding it steady, and the boats began to move. He dropped everything from his hands, swam to the far boat, and paddled.
"The famous Chenna River bank has eighteen steps — it will be hard to bring her up. I will drop you at our village. From there, the Veedhi Vangal is just a few minutes."
Kani agreed. She stood very close to Kolita and asked the man,
"Everyone in the villages and towns is at the Chakran Fort — when are you leaving?"
The man slowly turned and smiled, but there was pain in it.
"We are not invited. They don't treat us like equals. Not the Chakrans, not the Pathukalans before them — no one has ever treated us with respect. My grandfather, the old man — Kadal Veeran — was the son of a commander in the Pathukalan regime, but was never allowed inside Kalam. We are used to this."
Kani felt a pang of guilt for having made the man say it aloud. They reached the village shore and Kolita stepped onto solid ground.
Kani reached for her coin pouch, then looked at the man. The young man stepped forward.
"Sorry — I dropped everything on that shore. Please wait, let me fetch it."
Kani stopped him.
"No, it's all yours. Fetch it later. And tell your villagers that Kolita is not friendly."
The young man guided them through the village — the villagers were thrilled to see the elephant — and Kani passed them all with a smile.
The man left her at the Veedhi Vangal route, which was nearly empty, the guards few and scattered. Kani rode Kolita toward the Chakran capital.
—------------------------------------
"Don't drink today — you have to guard till morning," said Imaya, the guard at the entrance of the Spiraling Road, to Sankar, the big guard.
"What do you think the rulers up there are doing now? Praying to the gods for the wellbeing of their commoners? Idiots."
Several other guards surrounded him and laughed at Imaya.
Sankar lifted a large clay pot and started gulping. He hurled it aside.
"Damn, at least in my next life I should be born as a Chakran Prince. Did you see that woman — Sikala. What a woman. She still lives in my head."
Imaya called from a distance,
"You don't speak about our future Empress like that."
The guards laughed. One of them shoved his way forward.
"Leave Sikala alone! A forest girl who could eat ten Sikalas, and she's coming with a—"
Sankar shoved aside the guard blocking his view and stood up.
"Damn. Who is this woman?"
Imaya stepped down.
"Idiots — she is coming with an elephant! Quickly, take your spears and surround her!"
It was completely dark. Kani held a fire torch as twenty spearmen ran toward her, a spike leveled at her chest.
"Who are you, woman?"
Imaya called down from his horse as the other guards fanned out.
"Kani — from which house? Who is your father?"
Kani was silent. If she said Pathukala, she didn't know how she'd be treated. She said nothing.
"I'm here for the Prince's coronation. I was invited by the Chakran Throne."
The guards laughed. Their spikes began to lower.
Imaya kept a straight face.
"We were not informed of the Throne's guest. Do you have a scroll or a message?"
Kani's hand went to her hip. The scroll was gone. She remembered — it had dropped on the Chenna River bank, along with the coin pouch.
Kani asked Imaya,
"Can you tell Adhiyavan that Kani is here?"
A guard growled and charged toward her.
"How dare you disrespect our Prince!"
Imaya blocked him.
"First you're the Throne's guest, now the Prince's — what are you, some kind of con woman trying to sell this useless female elephant?"
Throughout history, only male elephants were used in combat. The last Chakran war elephant — the one Emperor Thejan rode to victory at Kalam — was also a male.
"My grandfather was invited to this coronation by the Chakran Throne. I am here in his honour. Please tell the Empress that Kani, granddaughter of Selvan, is here."
Imaya hesitated.
"All right, woman — but until the Empress sends word, you and your elephant wait here."
Imaya rode up the spiraling road. Kani sat at the edge.
Kani patted Kolita's trunk.
Sankar, heavily drunk, pushed aside the soldiers who tried to stop him and walked toward Kani.
"She won't come. You think the Empress would leave a feast for a guard? Tell me openly — how much do you want for the elephant? I know a rich merchant who'd like to take a look."
Kani stepped in front of Kolita.
"No. This is Adhiyavan's elephant."
Sankar smirked.
"You keep calling the Prince by name, as if you know him personally."
Kani just nodded.
"Why are you so drunk? It is bad for your health — and what would your family do without you?"
Kani asked this with complete innocence, unaware of what she had just touched.
"Family? For me? I've seen thirty-five summers alone — unmarried. Who would marry a guard who lives his life like a lizard? I'm not like that prince who inherited everything and has beautiful women falling at his feet. I'm just a nobody."
"Don't worry — you will find someone. Just a few weeks ago I didn't believe in miracles, but now I do."
Sankar, sweaty, stared at the ground and smirked.
"A miracle? For me?" He laughed without joy. "I don't think so."
His helmet slipped from his head; his spear clattered to the ground.
Kani stood up and picked them up and handed them back to him.
Sankar looked at her and smiled.
"I like you, woman. Will you marry me? I don't discriminate against your forest people — and you are kind."
Kani's face fell.
"I already love someone. But you will find a good woman."
Sankar, stung, got up and grabbed her arm.
"Just tell me I am not good enough for you. Even a tribal woman has rejected me."
Kolita's trunk caught him full in the face and sent him flying a few feet. All the guards rushed forward, spears raised. Kani threw herself in front of Kolita.
"Don't make her angry — move away. I can only hold her so long."
Sankar staggered to his feet and shoved through the soldiers, charging at Kani.
"How dare you — you low-born animal!"
A spear landed in the earth between them. They all turned. The fourteen-horse chariot of Kaatamaran stood on the road — he had thrown it.
He descended from the chariot and slapped Sankar across the face.
The guards snapped to attention as they recognized the Empress's chariot. Kani worked to calm Kolita.
Kaatamaran slapped Sankar again. Sankar went to his knees.
"Is this how you treat women?"
Sankar fell at Kaatamaran's feet, begging for his life.
Empress Parandvani stepped out of the chariot. The Royal Chakran Guard formed a perimeter. The guards knew exactly what they had gotten into.
Empress Parandvani stepped toward Kani, who was trying to tend to a wound on Kolita — which was only making Kolita angrier.
"Granddaughter of Selvan?"
"Yes." Kani nodded, her eyes wet.
Empress Parandvani stepped closer. Kani held up a hand.
"She is angry — it's not safe. Please stand back."
Empress Parandvani did not flinch. She took the torch and walked toward Kolita as Kani watched — even the Royal Chakran Guards held their breath.
The Empress raised the torch and met Kolita's eyes, holding her gaze — the Pathukalan way of seeking an elephant's trust. If the elephant charged, you stepped back; if she held still, she accepted you. Kani could not believe this woman knew these things.
Kolita calmed and lowered herself onto the road. The Empress turned and called Kaatamaran, who brought water to clean Kolita's wound.
Then she turned to Kani.
"Don't be surprised. Selvan was like a brother to me. He presided over my wedding."
Kani suddenly recalled her grandfather telling Adhiyavan that he had presided over Thejan's wedding.
"Empress Parandvani?" Kani breathed.
The Empress smiled and cupped her cheek. "You look just like your mother."
Kani had never seen her mother. She had left the world giving birth to Kani, and her father, learning the baby was female, had walked away from the tribe that same day. The tribe never spoke of her — and now, hearing those words, Kani felt something open in her chest.
"I bet all your life you've called me Usurper." The Empress smiled and walked on.
Kaatamaran forced every soldier to his knees on the road. Sankar was first in line. They were terrified — crying, begging for mercy.
Empress Parandvani walked past them toward her chariot and said it without turning.
"Execute them all."
They all started begging for their lives. Kani was shocked.
"Empress!" Kani stepped directly in front of Sankar. Parandvani turned.
"Can you do me a favour?"
Sankar froze. Every guard went silent.
Empress Parandvani nodded.
"Please — leave them. They have families, children, wives. Even this one asked my hand in marriage, in his own way. He shouldn't have grabbed me, but that is no reason to lose his life."
Kaatamaran stepped back. He had never seen anyone speak against Empress Parandvani — not even the Emperor.
Empress Parandvani looked at Kani for a long moment.
"You are indeed Selvan's granddaughter." She glanced at Kaatamaran. "Leave them."
Kani smiled.
"Come with me." The Empress walked toward her chariot.
Kani hesitated. "But Kolita?"
Empress Parandvani glanced at the men who wouldn't even step near Kolita.
The Empress walked to Kolita. Kolita stood and bent her legs, offering herself as a step.
Everyone watched, awed, as the Empress climbed onto the elephant.
Kani smiled and climbed up behind her, holding on, as Kolita walked the Spiral Road in the dead of night.
The fourteen-horse chariot rode ahead, lighting the way. Kani sat in front of the Empress and said nothing, suddenly shy.
"So you decided to terrify the entire Chakra court by arriving on an elephant."
Kani was confused.
"No — this is my gift to Adhiyavan." A pause. "Sorry. The Prince."
The Empress gave her a questioning look.
"A trained war elephant does not accept a stranger as her lead."
Kani opened her mouth before she could stop herself.
"But she was tamed by Adhiyavan, when he was in Agam — sh—"
The Empress's expression shifted. Kani went rigid, at a loss for words.
Then the Empress smiled.
"I am just teasing you. I know everything about you and Adhiyavan. He still carries the red thread."
Kani went quiet, her eyes down.
"Did he read my grandfather's book?"
"Ask him yourself." And they reached the gates where Adhiyavan stood waiting.
It was custom that the prince-to-be not leave the premises once the inauguration began, and it had begun three days ago.
Adhiyavan stood with wonder on his face, remembering how hard it had been to tame Kolita — remembering Annaiya's help — and here was the Empress riding her like a horse. It was near midnight, and the commoners who witnessed it felt the weight of something rare.
He helped Kani down. Kolita bent her leg to let the Empress descend.
Adhiyavan looked at Kani as if there were nothing else in the world.
The Empress broke the moment.
"She's had a rough day — let her rest. And Adhiya, tie Kolita in the stables."
The stables had just been built for horses — if Kolita was going in, he would need to remove some roofs.
"Yes — and get the medic. The idiot guards poked this poor baby." She patted Kolita's trunk.
Adhiyavan's jaw tightened. "Who did this — bring him to me."
Empress Parandvani shook her head at him — fond, mocking — and led Kani inside the fort.
"Kaatamaran — jackfruit. Kolita loves it." Adhiyavan took Kolita's lead and smiled at Kani as she walked inside.
Kani walked slowly into the Chakran Fort, taking in the three soaring layers, the great white marble pillars with a single gold vein running through each one — as though the marble itself had a golden nerve — and the painted faces of Emperors and Empresses watching from the walls.
Empress Parandvani clapped. Two maids appeared, heads bowed.
"Take her to the Ruby Chambers."
The maids' faces betrayed their surprise. The Ruby Chambers was the finest room after the Empress's own — traditionally given to the Vangudi chieftain, the Empress's brother, and since morning it had been prepared for his arrival the following day. And the Empress had simply given it to this girl, and walked away.
The maids' deference dropped the moment the Empress was gone. With poorly disguised disdain, they looked Kani up and down — the dirty brown single-wrap saree, knee-length, the lotus seed hip chain — she was standing there with wide, curious eyes and folded hands, and they decided she was no one.
"Come with me," one of the maids said, and started up the stairs. They reached the first floor.
The Emperor's Council Chamber doors burst open. Three Chendurai guards walked ahead, and Sikala — jaw set, furious — came through the centre, three more guards behind her. King Logawara trailed, still trying to convince her of something.
The maids pulled Kani to the side of the veranda to clear the way.
As she passed, Sikala stopped. She noticed the dots tattooed above Kani's brow, and the lotus seed bead chain.
One finger rose — the maids watched the four gold rings on Sikala's hand.
Sikala could not look away from the girl — small smile, curious eyes, head tilted, hands clasped.
"Who are you?" Sikala asked, as the maids came back to their senses.
Kani stepped forward to answer before the maids could.
"I'm Kani!"
The maids seized her arm.
"Girl — you address Her Majesty as—"
Sikala silenced them with a gesture.
Sikala's expression shifted from confusion to recognition.
"Kani?"
Kani smiled gently.
"Perhaps you know my grandfather — Selvan."
Sikala thought of the palm leaf book — Selvan's — which she had read from Adhiyavan's bag. She smiled and took Kani's hands.
"You are Kani — daughter of Vikran, granddaughter of Selvan of the Pathukalan Empire?"
Kani nodded. One of the maids fainted at the realization that she had just grabbed the wrist of a Pathukalan princess.
Sikala hugged her and smiled.
"I'm Sikala — daughter of Aravan."
Kani's face lit up — she thought of Adhiyavan's portrait, signed by Sikala, and she smiled.
"Please come to my chambers." Sikala dismissed everyone, and the two women walked in.
"I need to take a bath," Kani said, suddenly shy. "Is there a river or lake nearby?"
The maids laughed. Sikala stared at them.
Two maids came forward.
"Go with them, Kani — they will take care of you."
—------------------------------
A large wooden beam fell a foot from Adhiyavan's feet.
"I have a coronation to attend — why not aim for my head?" he called out to the carpenter pulling apart two wooden sheds to make room for Kolita.
Adhiyavan turned. Kaatamaran stood behind him.
"I have news, Prince."
Adhiyavan put an arm around his shoulders and walked him to the far side. Kaatamaran was terrified of Kolita and kept as much distance as possible. Kolita was eating fruit and leaves — presumably safe.
"Senga and his men have docked at Vel Island. They have the chicken alive."
Nakalan — the fool who had harassed Sikala and disrespected Senga — was alive and in their hands. This was the best news Adhiyavan had heard all day, and his mind began turning over what to do with it.
Kolita let out a trumpet and everyone flinched. Adhiyavan rushed to her side to calm her.
—-----------------------
Kani heard Kolita's trumpet from the bathtub, where maids were washing her hair against her will. She had never been comfortable with servants — she treated everyone the same, and when a maid knelt to wash her feet, she politely refused. When Kolita's call faded, Kani finally let herself be dressed in the violet silk saree Sikala had sent.
Sikala stood at the balcony, looking out at the empty spiral roads. She turned to find Kani standing in the doorway in the violet saree. She smiled and sat Kani down before a bronze mirror.
She poured her a cup of mukkani, a fermented drink.
Kani, not knowing what it was, drank it and thought it was some sort of sour juice — until it hit her.
Sikala cleared the room of the maids and sat on the bed.
"Is this your first time with mukkani?"
"What is mukkani?" Kani blinked.
Sikala smiled and moved Kani closer to her and took the cup away.
"You are the kindest woman I have met today," Kani slurred.
"Really?" Sikala smiled.
"Yes. What should I call you? Everyone's names are so confusing," Kani said.
"Call me Sikala."
Kani turned to face Sikala fully and folded her legs on the bed.
"I am going to tell you something that will make you throw me out of this room."
"Oh, now you're judging me, Kani?"
"No, no — I'm just saying, I know how it ends, and I'm certain."
Sikala turned to face her, folding her legs mirror to Kani.
"Tell me!"
Kani smiled, looking down.
"I know about you."
"Is that all? Should I throw you out now?" Sikala smiled.
"The problem is how I came to know."
Sikala rested her chin on her hand.
"Tell me. I am listening." She was enjoying Kani's drunken state.
"I saw your scroll painting of Adhiyavan. You made him far more beautiful than he is."
Sikala and Kani both laughed out loud.
Then Kani continued.
"But that idiot has a beautiful heart. The way he does strange things just to make me smile — and the trouble he gets into — it is what made that idiot the hero of mine."
Sikala took her hands.
"Yes — he is an idiot who does stupid things to make the people he loves happy, which is exactly why everyone loves him. And I don't mind that my favourite person has more than one favourite person."
Tears rolled down Kani's face. Sikala pulled her into a hug.
"Get some rest, dear. We will tease that idiot tomorrow." And she laid drunk Kani down on the bed.