The constant companions
A universe of misfits, miscreants and FEARSOME FRIENDS
Constant companion
An inheritance you don’t get to choose. The help you don’t necessarily want.
The Al-Jaffari family
The surname and royal rank change every 200 years. But the deadly bloodline, for the past 2000 years, remains the same.
The Raden family
The family of an army captain saddled with an inheritance they don’t ask for.
The flying keris
The flying keris obeys its master and no one else.
The Popsicle man
When he forgets, the Popsicle man accidentally reveals his true form to humans. Not a pretty sight.
The headless Captain
A captain by rank. How do they know? From his battle-worn uniform.
The keeper of the Buddhist temple
Every sanctuary has its guardian. This one is no exception.
The Fanged King
He feasts on human blood and forgets his place.
The were-tiger
The were-tiger eats the enemy. At times, he loses control and eats anyone.
The story
a tale as old as the constant companion
Part One: The Red-Haired Gurkhas
A ghost appears just as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission exhumes the remains of fallen World War 2 soldiers.
Part Two: The Tiger-Man and His Constant Companion
An elderly relative reveals what their family ‘keeper’ did to the enemy soldiers. The price paid was too high.
Part Three: The Night of the Flying Blades
During their school break, Raden children learn more about family magic and the past. The flying blades are justice reserved for those betrayed by kith and kin.
The characters
Everyone has a secret
Sarah, daughter of Raden
Sarah has two choices: look away or face up to the family problem.
Adam, son of Raden
Adam is ill. But he’ll put his life on the line to save his beloved sisters.
Wak Ahmad
His unruly servant becomes too much for the old man to bear.
Captain Raden
What you can’t see doesn’t exist. To Captain Raden, that applies to ghosts as well as the hidden past.
Moyang
What the enemy snatches from her, the matriarch will seize back. She stops at nothing to protect her clan.
Syed Alwi
His own family keeps things secret from him. But Syed is no fool.
Sergeant Lindsey Wright
Wright hopes for some sunshine after the war. He gets what he bargains for, and more.
Yamashiro Ryu
Was it a vow made in the past life? Or is Yamashiro simply lucky?
Wak Karno
Karno goes where the darkness is and barely makes it alive.
The Red Sash
When terror hits, The Red Sash reciprocate to their enemies in kind.
The Argyll
The sole survivor of a massacre saved by the Constant Companion.
Wak Suryo
The only other person who can command the Constant Companion.
The magic
spells, charms and things BEWITCHING
Angel trumpet flower
A sip of a drink laced with this flower will send you into a deep sleep.
Garansang water
Drink it and you shall lust for blood.
Flying blades
The blades fly on their own, looking for their masters’ enemies.
Floral bath
The bath washes away your fears.
Santau
A form of black magic. Not the kind of gift you want to receive.
Kayu tas
The wooden rod that subdues beasts, be them animal and demon.
Glossary
THE DEVIL’s in the details
- Adam, son of Raden
- Angel trumpet flower
- Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- Banjarese
- Barongan
- Battle of Gurun
- Battle of Muar
- Battle of Singapore
- Berlin Wall
- Bomoh
- Brahman Buddhism
- Bundestag
- Captain Raden
- Cirebon, Java
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Conscript
- Constant companion
- Dutch East India Company
- Floral bath
- Flying blades
- Gambus
- Garansang water
- Geneva Convention
- Grandpa Tiger
- Gurkha
- Hat Yai Treaty
- Headhunting
- Home Guard
- The Argyll
- The Fanged King
- The flying keris
- The headless Captain
- Ikebana
- Imperial Japanese Army
- Juzu beads
- Kadazan
- Kamikaze
- Katana
- Kayu tas
- Kecapi
- Kempeitai
- Kendo
- Keraton
- Keris
- Kesatriya
- Kongsi
- Kuala Kangsar, Perak
- Longhouse
- Macan Ahmat
- Malayan Emergency
- Merlimau, Malacca
- Moyang
- Parang bungkol (machete)
- Pelikat
- Peninsular Malaysia
- The Al-Jaffari family
- The keeper of the Buddhist temple
- The map of the Tiger-Men
- The MPAJA
- The Popsicle man
- Part One: The Red-Haired Gurkhas
- Part Three: The Night of the Flying Blades
- Part Two: The Tiger-Man and His Constant Companion
- Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
- River Muar
- Royal Malay Regiment
- Royal Malayan Police
- Royal Ranger Regiment
- Santau
- Sarah, daughter of Raden
- Saudara baru (convert)
- Selepang Merah vigilantes
- Sepak takraw
- Sergeant Lindsey Wright
- Shinai
- Sinkheh
- State of Emergency
- Syed Alwi
- Tapai
- Tempayan
- Tempeh
- The Raden family
- The Red Sash
- The were-tiger
- Tiang seri (pillar)
- Tokyo Draft, Red Cross proposal, 1934
- Wak Ahmad
- Wak Karno
- Wak Suryo
- Yamashiro Ryu
Salina Christmas 