Excerpt: Ponniyin Selvan Book 5, Deathly Sword By Nandini Krishnan

In this much-awaited fifth volume of Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan series, translated by Nandini Krishnan, Prince Arulmozhi Varman vanishes after a shipwreck off the coast of Lanka, sparking rumours and uncertainty about his fate and his ties to a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam. While his friend Vandiyadevan grapples with  Pazhuvoor Rani Nandini’s dangerous intrigues and the difficult choices before him, the Chozha court seethes with betrayal as conspirators push to crown Madurantaka Devar. Amid shifting loyalties and treacherous plots, the destiny of the empire hangs precariously in the balance.

This unabridged translation of Ramaswamy 'Kalki' Krishnamurthy's masterwork by Nandini Krishnan is at once faithful to the original and accessible to the readers of this day. Carefully crafted in lyrical prose, the Ponniyin Selvan series is the quintessential page-turner: full of adventure, intrigue, conspiracy and romance.

Excerpt from Deathly Sword

Poonguzhali stood frozen, trying to breathe as quietly as she could and stay well-hidden behind the leaves. Nandini and the mantravadi spoke softly, but she could hear most of their exchange.

When the Pazhuvoor Rani said she wasn’t convinced that the prince had drowned, the mantravadi said, ‘Rani, you never trust me, whatever I say. But could you tell me, what makes you doubt the truth of this particular news?’

‘Haven’t you heard of the prince’s astounding horoscope? The priest at the Kuzhagar temple mentioned it too.'

‘That’s insanity! The powers of planets and stars are as nothing to my magical powers. Do you know that it was I who conjured the storm? That spy from Kanchi didn’t believe this either, at first. But he must have come around to admitting it even as he drowned to death!’

‘Did you see Vandiyadevan drown to death?’

‘So what if I didn’t? I saw the ship on which he was stranded catch fire.’

‘Apparently, the prince jumped into the sea to save him from that burning ship?’

‘Did he return?’

‘Not to the Pallavan’s ship.'

‘Then, why are you still in doubt? I left Vandiyadevan alive so I could kill both our enemies at once. He was bait for the prince.'

‘I’m not able to believe the two of them are dead. Something tells me they’re both still alive. Do you know Poonguzhali?’

‘All too well. She was a pain in Lanka, giving us trouble at every turn. In all likelihood, she perished in the tempest too.’

‘No, she did not. Some time ago, a boat appeared in the distance. Rakkammaal saw it from the top of the lighthouse. And it disappeared all of a sudden. She thought she saw two or three people in the boat.’

‘In that case, leave with that old man right away. I’ll keep watch here.’

‘Why should I not stay?’

‘If the old man stays and finds the prince, he’ll give him a royal welcome. All our plans will go to waste.’

‘Mantravadi! It strikes me too ... why do they all have to die? As long as everyone consents to crowning Madurantakan emperor ...’

‘Ammani! Trust you to reveal your pen buddhi! The spy from Kanchi knows all our secrets. He must have told the prince already. Leave before daybreak. Rakkamma! If Poonguzhali has indeed brought those two men here, where would she have hidden them?’

‘There’s a hidden ruin in the forest. That is her secret den. She kept the spy from Kanchi there through the day before taking him to Lanka. I found out later.’

‘Well, good. I know where that ruin is. I’ll go await them there. Rani! How is the emperor? Have you had any news?’

‘Which emperor do you speak of?’

‘This tongue will never bring itself to refer to that invalid Sundara Chozhan as “emperor”. I speak of our emperor.’

‘I had news of him about ten days ago. They say he is well. Aha! How long it has been since we met!’

‘All right, all right, leave right away. What does that Pallava moron intend to do?’

‘We’re taking him to Thanjai with us.’

‘Be careful around him.’

‘Oh, there’s no need to worry about him. He’ll lay down his life to fulfil my slightest wish.’

‘Even so, it’s better to err on the side of caution. You did allow that spy from Kanchi to pull a fast one on you, no?’

‘You’re right. I did. And that’s why I wish to meet him again.'

‘Please don’t nurse that desire, Rani! You won’t meet him alive again.’

With that exchange, they seemed to move away from the spot. Poonguzhali folded herself further into the shadows. Thankfully, they headed off in a different direction and didn’t pass by her.

The conversation she had chanced upon had stricken her with panic. Her entire body trembled at the thought of the various dangers that were closing in from all sides on Ponniyin Selvar. He was laid low by a terrible fever. Pazhuvettaraiyar was waiting to arrest him. Conspirators were planning to murder him. And that Mohini Pisaasu in human form was egging them all on. She had even cast her spell on Parthibendran. The hidden ruin, where Poonguzhali had thought the prince would be safe, was no longer a secret spot. Even as her throat constricted and heart beat ever faster and sight grew dim, Poonguzhali’s thoughts were all focused on getting back to the boat as fast as she could. The responsibility of saving the prince from all these perils was hers alone. And this was such a heavy burden that she was filled with self-doubt ... so much so that, for the first time in her life, she wondered whether she had lost her way in the forest. It seemed to her that she was circling round to the same spot over and over again. What if she ran into one of the prince’s enemies now? What explanation could she offer? How was she to escape so that she could save the prince?

Excerpted with permission from Deathly Sword, Kalki, translated from the Tamil by Nandini Krishnan, Ekada/Westland.