LOGINShare
Thirty Six
publish date:
2026-08-06 13:38:43
Latest chapter
Toward the Sun Thirty Seven
Jaladri skidded to a halt beside the young prince, chest heaving. He and the royal guards swept their eyes across the courtyard, searching every shadow. The commander immediately dispatched his men to comb the palace grounds, while his four finest soldiers remained behind to protect the Crown Prince."They escaped that fast?" Jaladri asked, still trying to catch his breath."They moved like demons," Wiratmaka growled. "They're far beyond our level. Was that man Suwung Saketi?"Jaladri nodded. "Yes. That's him. He somehow tracked me all the way here.""And the other one?""I've never seen him before. But he was chasing Saketi. I'd guess they're sworn enemies.""That was Tanpa Aran," a soft feminine voice said. "The strange swordsman with white skin and white hair."Every man turned at once.A slender figure hurried toward them from the direction of the mosque, her features swallowed by the dim light."Tanpa Aran?" Prince Wiratmaka echoed. "So that's his name?""That's what he told me,"
Toward the Sun Thirty Six
Someone's coming," the man's voice was calm. "They'll try to kidnap you again. Stay alert."Jaladri frowned, trying to recognize the stranger sitting across from him amid the noisy morning marketplace."Who?"They were eating rice wrapped in banana leaves while sitting atop a butcher's stall, casually helping themselves to pieces of meat from the display."You'll recognize him."The man wore a long robe. His face was perfectly visible. Yet somehow, Jaladri couldn't actually see it."We've met before?""Long ago."The marketplace vanished. The stranger now sat on a beach, holding a fishing rod. Jaladri absentmindedly kicked a leather ball across the sand."When?""Doesn't matter. To awaken your Lintang, listen to the vibration inside your chest. Guide it into your hand," he smiled. "Then hit as hard as you can. We'll see what happens.""My... what?"The beach dissolved. Now they were riding horses across an endless desert."The Lintang, the Star..." the man's voice echoed through the
Toward the Sun Thirty Five
Pramesti pulled the blanket tighter around herself. Warm. Wonderfully warm. Then, a moment later, something felt wrong.Very wrong. She wasn’t at home.The unfamiliar chill in the air jolted her awake. She shot upright and looked around in confusion.“What is this?”She pushed aside the large black cloth she had mistaken for a blanket. It clearly wasn’t bedding. It smelled strange.The first thing she noticed was a campfire crackling a short distance away. She was lying on another broad piece of cloth spread over the ground. Dense trees and thick undergrowth surrounded her on all sides. Then she heard the sound of running water.A river.The question was: where?The memories came rushing back. The flooded river. Ringin Pitu. The madman Dewaningrat.And the mysterious swordsman who had appeared out of nowhere and killed the old man disguised as a woman with a single stroke.Pramesti glanced around again. Where was he?“So, you’re awake.”She spun around. The man appeared from behind he
Toward the Sun Thirty Four
Senopati Bantala pulled his mask back over his face the moment he heard the distant thunder of approaching hooves. He stepped closer to the massive tree behind him, blending into the darkness beneath its thick canopy, hidden from the bright moonlight flooding the night.His hand drifted to the hilt of his sword as the horse approached at a slow pace.Then he caught a familiar scent.Instantly, the tension drained from his body. He even stepped forward into view and lowered the cloth mask again.It was Rinjani.Like him, the young woman was dressed entirely in dark blue, the color swallowing her into the night.“How did it go?” Bantala asked.“Smoothly, Senopati. We left after lunch and traveled by horseback. Once we entered Larangan Lor District, Prince Candrakumala’s household welcomed us and provided palanquins for the three of us. The journey moved quickly after that. Mantri Wuragil, the steward of the prince’s residence, arranged lodging for us at Dalem Kulon, a smaller palace on t
Toward the Sun Thirty Three
Jaladri approached in laku dhodhok, or walking while also squatting, and then perform a sembah—both hands clasped in front of his face as a gesture of respect and surrender to a ruler.Prince Wiratmaka sat on his stone throne in the corner of the spacious pavillion, facing an exquisitely carved low table made of polished hardwood.“Your servant pays his respects, Your Highness.”Wiratmaka glanced over. “Forget the bowing. Nobody’s watching.”Jaladri looked up. “Seriously?”“Yeah. Just act normal. The way you did all day on the road. Come here. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”“Finally!”Jaladri practically launched himself across the room.“Not that normal either.”“To hell with it. My back’s been killing me from acting like I was attending a royal coronation.”He hurried over and dropped cross-legged beside the table. A moment later, Wiratmaka stepped down from the throne and joined him on the carpet.“All right. This is important. Ready?”“Of course. What’s going on?
Toward the Sun Thirty Two
“You three can sleep out here tonight, Brother,” Ni Sanadi said. “I’ll make some fried rice, very delicious. As for you, Pramesti, you’ll sleep inside. Come on.”As obedient as ever, Pramesti followed the old woman into a room directly behind the wide bamboo platform in the front hall.“You can sleep here,” Ni Sanadi said, pointing to a bamboo cot in the corner. “There’s already a blanket.”Pramesti sat down.The bed felt wonderful after the long ride from Karang Bendan that had begun before dawn. At that moment, all she wanted was to lie down and sleep.“Where will you sleep, Grandma?” she asked.“I can stay at a neighbor’s house,” the old woman smiled. “Get some rest first. Later, if you’d like, you can help me make the fried rice. The rice is already cooked. We just need to prepare the spices and fry it.”“I’d like that. By the way, where is Ki Dewaningrat Pakulangit?”“Ki Paku is away. Important business. But he knew special guests would arrive this evening, so he instructed me to
You may also like
The Empire of Thetia
PinkTenshi4.4K viewsThe Warrior And His Emperors
_diamond_crown5.2K viewsRose Court: Who Can Save Us?
Safaye3.9K viewsHidden Celestial Maiden
DuchessLucia3.7K viewsLet the Right One In
Skies Ambrielle5.4K viewsEmperor's Daughter
Swiftpen1233.5K viewsA King's Surrender
Pearl Ojo2.7K viewsFifty years
Amberlyn Emmanuel4.6K views
