Translated fiction: Who wants to kill Arulmozhi Varman, the beloved Ponniyin Selvan of the Lankans?

Even before sunrise the next day, Arulmozhi Varmar, Azhvarkadiyaan and Vandiyadevan were on their way to Anuradhapuram. They walked along the forest path for a while and then reached the main road, the Rajpath. It surprised Vandiyadevan that the prince had chosen not to bring along an escort of his soldiers for protection.

Vandiyadevan had never in his life experienced anything like this journey. To walk on the broad avenue, bordered by trees on either side, in the cool morning air, was a joy in itself. He was thrilled with himself at having successfully completed the task which the princess had assigned to him in Pazhaiyarai.

Was that all? He had yearned for years to meet the golden boy, beloved of everyone in Chozha Naadu, and that wish had now been realised. He had actually met the prince to whose courage and courteousness people sang paeans.

And what a meeting it had been! He could now vouch that Arulmozhi Varmar was indeed cut from a different cloth. The way the prince had stunned him by suddenly turning the horse around and attacking him! This must be the secret of his successes on the battlefield. His modus operandi was to catch the enemy unawares, at a time...

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