Historical fiction: Marthanda Varma ascends the throne of Travancore after the death of his uncle

In the three years since his meeting with the English, Marthanda had remained focused on vanquishing the confederacy. As he recruited men and procured arms, the confederacy was pulling out all the stops to eliminate the rising threat. They forced the crown prince to remain at the fringes of society, deep in the forests, with no access to the capital city of Padmanabhapuram. But the dogged youth didn’t lose hope despite the overwhelming odds and continued being a thorn in the affairs of the confederacy. At times, this meant emerging from the shadows to meet with the royal family, even if it meant risking his life.

Thiruvananthapuram Palace was much smaller and less grand than Padmanabhapuram. In fact, it did not even hold a candle to the typical home of an Ettu Veetil Pillamar. It was a simple two-floor structure built around a small central courtyard, with a few private quarters and a main hall. Its unassuming appearance was precisely the reason Marthanda chose it for his secret meeting with the Travancore king.

An older and grittier-looking Marthanda greeted the king. “Thank you for coming at such short notice, uncle. It gives me immense pleasure to meet with you after such a...

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