Page 132 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

“Did you know she was the reincarnation of Karna?” asked Aru.

Krithika shook her head. “No. I didn’t think that was possible. I learned that the same moment you did, after I got home.”

“From where?” asked Aru, her voice trembling. “We didn’t see you formonths, Mom….”

Krithika took a deep breath. “Every time you went away on a mission, I went on one of my own, to gather information. I knew the Sleeper was after the nectar of immortality, and I’ve been looking for clues about where it might be. The devas put it under a protective spell so the location of the labyrinth it’s in changes with the moon. Most ofthemdon’t even know where it is at any given time.” She lowered her voice. “According to a secret message I discovered, the only light that can reveal the path to it must come from the sun itself.”

Understanding flooded through Aru.

“At first I thought that meant the amrita was far underground, or deep in the sea,” Krithika said furtively. “But clearly he thinks Kara is the key to everything. After all, she came from the sun. If she has powers of light and truth, she might be able to see something that others cannot.”

Aru felt like she was fighting for breath. With Kara by his side, the Sleeper had the capability not only to find the amrita, but also to make her summon the Nairrata army. Only those who wielded godly weapons could control the golden soldiers, and thanks to Kara, that no longer included Aru, Brynne, or Mini.

“So that’s it, then,” said Aru. “Everything we did to protect the Otherworld…It’s just…gone. None of it mattered.”

“I wasn’t finished, beta,” said Krithika, resting her hand against Aru’s back. She continued in a whisper, even though no one was around to listen. “I think I know where the labyrinth is, and it will only be there until the full moon.”

“So?”

“So…that’s ten days from now,” said Krithika. “We still have time to—”

“Time,” repeated Aru dully. “What do you know about time, Mom? You were awayforever.”

Krithika averted her eyes, hurt. “When you get that far into the Otherworld, time moves differently—you’ve experienced the same thing. That’s why I was gone for so long. But as soon as I realized what he was planning, I came back. The battle for Lanka was just the beginning. A test, I think, of both you and Kara.”

Ten days.

Ten days to dowhat, exactly? wondered Aru.

Even if, by some bizarre stroke of luck, they actually got their celestial weapons back, how would they get to the amrita before the Sleeper? Besides, the only person who could help them find the nectar had left with him.

“Do you hate me, Aru?” asked her mother softly. “I haven’t been there for you enough, I know, and I tried to shelter you from the truth. But I never meant to hurt you. I thought I was doing—”

“The right thing?” finished Aru. The phrase reminded her of Kara.

Her mother nodded, silent tears running down her cheeks.

For a long time, Aru had been angry. Her fury was like a raging inferno, but eventually it had burned down to ashes, leaving her with nothing but pity. She pitied Boo, her dad, her mom, and Kara, and that pity made her calm.

Aru reached out and pulled Krithika into a hug. “I don’t hate you, Mom.”

I feel sorry for you,she thought, but didn’t say aloud.

Krithika hugged her back tightly. “I’m not leaving you alone again, and I know how to help you this time.”

“There’s nothing to help with,” said Aru, pulling back. “It’s all over—”

A faintcheep!cut her off.What was that?Aru thought she’d imagined the sound when a louder, more insistentcheep!followed. It was coming from the sweater nest in the alcove by the door. Aru had given the egg a kiss and asked it for good luck right before entering her birthday party.

A flutter of nerves built up inside her chest as Aru crossed the room now. Sure enough, the Boo egg had begun to crack. Little bits of ruby-bright eggshell had fallen to the ground.

Cheep!

One piece of shell bounced off something shiny on the floor. Aru saw that her backpack had tipped over and spilled its contents: an empty packet of Twizzlers, a half-empty bottle of hand sanitizer, and that gold coin from Agni, the god of fire.

IO(F)U, it said on it (which Aru still thought sounded rude). Incendiary Offers for Future Use.

Aru bent down and picked it up, remembering Agni’s words.I have an arsenal of weapons that you will have need of…. When that time comes, call on me.