Page 14 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

“I vote no,” said Brynne, crossing her arms.

Mini looked thoughtfully at Kara. “I vote…yes. We can’t choose our family, and we didn’t hold it against Rudy when his grandfather Takshaka had it out for us and blamed us for stealing the god of love’s arrow.”

Brynne scowled, then turned to Aru. “Well, Shah?”

Aru noticed that Aiden was watching her curiously.

“I vote yes,” said Aru. “I…I believe Kara.”

The moment Aru said it, she realized she truly meant it. Kara smiled shyly at her, but the moment was broken once more by Brynne, who threw up her hands.

“Okay,fine, we’ll accept your intel and help, but you can’t come with us,” said Brynne.

“I’m the one person outside my father’s army who knows why he’s marching on Lanka,” said Kara. “He’s after a specific weapon, and…and if you don’t let me come with you, I won’t tell you what it is. Then, even if you win Kubera’s trials and get the Nairrata army, you might miss the one thing he came there for.”

Aru realized Kara must have been awake for part of their earlier conversation.Maybe sneakydoesrun in the family, she thought.

“This weapon…” said Aiden. “It’s not the Nairrata itself?”

Kara shook her head, remaining tight-lipped.

“Are you seriously trying to manipulate us?” demanded Brynne.

“No, but I…Iwillstand up for myself,” said Kara. “I won’t be bullied.”

“No one isbullyingyou,” grumbled Brynne. “At least Rudy was somewhat useful. As a prince, he could get us into different places. But what canyoudo? If you don’t give us that information about the weapon, then bringing you with us is just going to get us killed. We need someone who can fight—”

“Icanfight,” said Kara, standing up straight.

“Oh yeah?” said Brynne. “Prove it.”

A few minutes later, Kara and Brynne squared off in the wide museum lobby. Aiden had his camera ready. Mini kept tapping her fingers along the edge of a first-aid kit. Aru leaned against Greg, the giant stone elephant statue that served as a portal to the Otherworld (that is, when the Otherworld wasn’t in complete and total lockdown).

“Aru, you madepopcorn?” scolded Mini. “That’s terrible!”

“But delicious,” said Aiden, helping himself to a buttery fistful.

“This shouldn’t be a spectacle,” grumbled Mini. “The vote should’ve put the decision to rest. Now Kara will lose and we’ll leave her behind, which will make things evenmoredangerous for everyone. If the Sleeper finds out that she’s missing, then what?”

“You don’t know that she’s going to lose,” said Aru.

“Against Brynne?” scoffed Mini. “Wecan barely hold our own against her.”

Aru said nothing. She remembered Kara’s escape from the Sleeper’s lair—the way she’d darted quickly, and how her ring had instantly transformed into a brilliant trident. There was more to this girl than it seemed at first glance.

“Ready?” asked Brynne, twirling her wind mace.

Kara nodded.

Brynne blurred forward, spinning out her wind mace. A cyclone tore through the museum lobby. Papers and dust swirled into the air. Some of the papers folded themselves into birds with sharp beaks. As Brynne slammed down her weapon, the creatures rushed at her opponent.

Kara spun out of the way, then stretched out one hand. Her white-gold ring shattered apart, lengthening into the six-foot-tall trident. Brynne’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped as Kara waved her weapon. An arc of burning light followed the movement, incinerating the paper birds in mid-flight.

“You think you’re the only one who knows how to play with fire?” asked Brynne. A red stripe appeared in her blue mace. She pointed the club downward and swung it so a line of flames raced across the lobby floor.

Kara aimed the trident and searing light exploded from its tips, meeting the fire in the middle of the room.

Beside Aru, Mini screamed, “Watch out!” She slammed her Death Danda, Dee Dee, on the ground and violet light ribboned around the room, sealing off the exhibit halls and staircases. Brynne’s flames sloshed up the side of Mini’s shield and then dripped down like lava, leaving Aiden, Mini, and Aru untouched.