Novels by Narandra Christ

Chapter 10: The Page TurnsThe hallway was a suffocating throat of stone, choked with the smell of ozone and burnt silk. Kirun stared at his own face—the same sharp jaw, the same haunted eyes—now twisted into a mask of cruel, regal boredom."You’re really him, aren’t you? The original owner of this body," Kirun rasped, his voice sounding thin against the heavy thrumming of the castle walls."Owner is such a crude term, don’t you think?" Lucius tilted his head, the movement fluid and unnervingly practiced. "I’m the architect. You’re just the tenant who forgot to pay the rent.""Architect? You’re a ghost with a flair for the dramatic," Kirun spat, his hand twitching toward the heavy, iron-bound diary still clutched in Lucius’s fingers. "What do you want?"Lucius laughed, a sound like glass shattering on marble. "I want the mess cleaned up. You’ve been running around like a headless chicken, and frankly, you’re embarrassing the bloodline.""I’m embarrassing the bloodline?" Kirun took a h

Chapter 9: Shadows in the CourtThe hiss grew louder, the iron lock bubbling into a molten, blackened ruin. Kirun scrambled backward, his heart hammering against his ribs like a frantic bird. He didn’t reach for the tainted sword; he grabbed a heavy metal candelabra instead."Who’s out there?" Kirun shouted, his voice steady despite the adrenaline spiking in his veins. "If you’re looking for a tip, the service here is non-existent.""Still mouthy, aren't we?" A voice drifted through the door—smooth, cultured, and terrifyingly familiar. "I expected you to be blind and screaming by now, Kirun. The craftsmanship on that hilt was supposed to be flawless."Kirun’s blood turned to ice. "Rajasa? You’ve been busy. Did you pick up locksmithing between brewing poison and failing to assassinate me?""I’ve picked up a great many things," Rajasa chuckled, the lock finally giving way with a metallic snap. "Including a deep, abiding hatred for your survival instincts."Kirun kicked the chair toward

Chapter 8: Duel of the FoolsThe morning sun didn’t rise; it bled over the horizon, turning the training grounds into a gilded arena of dust and impending violence. Duke Wahid stood in the center, his chest puffed out like a pigeon in plated steel, his rapier already singing as he slashed the air."You’re late, boy," Wahid barked, his face a roadmap of spoiled ambition. "Or are you just hoping the executioner saves me the trouble?"Kirun walked onto the sand, his boots crunching. The steel in his hand felt like an extension of his own arm—cold, heavy, and ready. He didn't look at the crowd, but he felt their eyes, a thousand needles pricking his skin."I was busy finding my spine, Duke. It’s hard to locate in this castle," Kirun said, his voice echoing against the stone walls.Wahid sneered, adjusting his stance. "Your father should have smothered you in the crib. It would have saved the kingdom a lot of embarrassment.""Maybe. But then you’d have no one to play with, right?" Kirun st

Chapter 7: Training the VillainThe darkness wasn't empty; it was filled with the smell of damp earth and the distant, rhythmic drip of water. Bakti groaned, his ribs feeling like they’d been crushed by a carriage. He pushed himself up, his hands scraping against cold, uneven stone."Dead? No, not yet," he wheezed, rubbing his throbbing temples. "Still in the basement. Still alive. Still miserable."He felt the floor, searching for the diary, but his fingers met only gritty dust. "Great. I lost the damn thing in the explosion. Without that manual, I’m just a guy in a fancy shirt waiting to get executed.""You look like a wet dog, brother."Bakti spun around, wincing as his side flared with white-hot pain. Standing in the shadows was a man with sharp features and a gaze that radiated pure, unadulterated annoyance. Rajasa—his half-brother."Rajasa?" Bakti spat, clenching his fists. "What, did you come down here to finish what Sartika started?""Sartika? That woman is a viper," Rajasa sn

Chapter 6: The Hidden LibraryThe heavy oak door groaned as Kirun slipped into the dimly lit corridor, his side throbbing with every shallow breath. The diary felt like a lead weight in his waistband."Easy, Lucius. Don’t pass out now," he muttered to himself, his voice a jagged whisper in the drafty hall. "If you fall over, the guards will just think you’re drunk. That’s probably the best-case scenario."He pulled the leather book out. The ink swirled into place with a wet, scratching sound.‘9:30 PM: Take the servant’s path behind the tapestry. The guards are changing shifts at the west junction. If you run into the Captain, ask him about his gambling debts. He’ll be too embarrassed to arrest you.’"Gambling debts? You really are a gossip-monger, aren't you?" Kirun sighed, shuffling toward the heavy velvet hanging."Who's there?" a gruff voice barked from the shadows.Kirun froze, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He pressed his back against the cold stone wa

Chapter 5: Healing SecretsThe smell of antiseptic and stale incense hit Kirun like a physical blow. He groaned, his side screaming in protest as he tried to sit up. The movement was sluggish, hampered by layers of thick, linen bandages."Careful, Your Highness. You move like an old man who’s lost his marbles," a voice drawled from the shadows of the room.Kirun squinted against the dim light. Sartika was sitting in a velvet armchair, a book in her lap, her eyes tracking his every twitch."I’m alive?" Kirun rasped, his voice sounding like gravel."Unfortunately for you, yes," she said, closing her book with a soft thud. "The physician said you’re stubborn. Even for a royal, that’s quite an accomplishment.""Is that a compliment, Sartika? I think I might be dreaming," Kirun muttered, leaning his head back against the pillows."Don't flatter yourself. It’s a diagnosis of stupidity," she shot back, standing up and walking toward the bed. "You fought like a common street brawler back ther