Page 15 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

“Quick thinking,” breathed Aiden, who was crouched on the floor.

Aru groaned, looking down at the spilled popcorn. “But what a sacrifice…”

“It was either your popcorn or the entirety of your mother’s museum, and I didn’t want to risk the insurance plan,” huffed Mini.

On the other side of the shield, Brynne’s mace swept the flames into a great tornado. Smoke clouded the contained sphere of their makeshift arena. Brynne squinted, swiping at the air in front of her eyes, but Kara didn’t blink or cough. Brynne stumbled out of the cyclone of smoke, gasping for oxygen.

Kara’s trident zipped through the lobby, this time leaving a trail of light in its wake.

Brynne defensively swung up her mace, but Kara’s weapon was too quick.

A second later, Brynne was pinned to the floor by her shirt. Her flames went out.

Aru, Aiden, and Mini stared in shock at Brynne’s defeat. The moment the wind died down and cleared away the smoke, Mini dropped the protective shield and the three of them rushed over. Kara stood over Brynne and pulled up her trident. It shrank and swooped back into Kara’s hand, where it transformed into her ring once more.

“Bee, you okay?” asked Mini anxiously.

“Ugh.”

Kara looked nervous. “You’re the one who wanted to fight.”

Brynne scowled. “Where did you get that weapon?”

“It was a gift,” said Kara defensively. “It’s a drop of sunshine. Dad caught it for me and kept it in a bag made of night cloth. When I opened it, this is the form it took.”

“That’s a pretty violent gift,” said Aru, ignoring the sudden pinch in her heart. The Sleeper had given his other daughter so much. Aside from the picture book he’d bought at the hospital, all Aru had ever gotten from her father was threats.

“Aru told us the Sleeper called you his secret weapon,” said Mini, examining the trident. “Is this what he meant?”

“I don’t think so,” said Kara. “He said drops of light are uncommon, but they’re notthatrare…. I honestly don’t know what he meant by that, but Idoknow Dad is looking for the nectar of immortality, and Sunny has nothing to do with that.”

“Sunny?” asked Aiden.

“It’s what I named my trident,” said Kara quietly. “So…can I come?”

Brynne exhaled loudly, still lying on the floor. “You’re really not going to tell us about the weapon the Sleeper is looking for?”

Kara eyed them. “If you were in my position, would you?”

Welp. That was fair. Brynne looked like she wanted to push it, but Aiden toed her leg with the end of his shoe. She swatted at him.

“Okay, what’s your idea for getting to Lanka?” she grumbled.

Kara beamed. “Well, it’s easy, really. All gold roads lead to Lanka. We just need to find a place with some gold.”

“A jewelry store?” asked Mini.

Aru perked up. “Or gold bars? Are we going to rob a bank?”

“Why are you like this, Shah?” Aiden sighed.

“What we really need,” said Kara, “is a gold mine.”

“Agold mine?” repeated Brynne, sitting up and staring up at them. “Sure, it’s right next to Aru’s corner deli—”

“Really?” asked Mini.

“Of course not!” said Brynne. “Who has a gold mine lying around?”