Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,87
it was huge, at least three times the size of an animal she’d see at a zoo. Its skin was pure white, and its deep brown eyes regarded them warmly. Silken cords were stretched between its two curved tusks like an unfinished weaving on a loom.
“Airavata!” shouted Rudy.
Aru’s eyes widened. Airavata wasn’t just the elephant that spun clouds. He was also a mount of Lord Indra himself. At the realization, Aru felt Vajra squeeze warmly around her wrist. This was the best fatherly pat on the back she could have hoped for.
Airavata trumpeted loudly, then dove under Aru and soared back up to catch her in mid-fall. Aru felt her stomach swoop as she landed squarely on Airavata’s back. Mini, Brynne, Kara, Rudy, and Aiden tumbled on after her.
Airavata trumpeted in triumph, then wove between the stars, his giant white ears spreading out like wings. The moment the elephant sounded off, Aru felt her skin prickle all over. It was the same sensation she got whenever she crossed through portals in the Otherworld. Aru blinked, and it was as if they had entered another dimension. Instead of the darkness of Otherworld space, they were now soaring across a dusky evening sky, and instead of endless stars, there was a vast, dark ocean beneath them. Airavata’s shadow stretched over the waves. Salt and wind tangled in Aru’s hair, and she breathed deeply, feeling her lungs expanding.
“There’s Lanka!” said Mini, pointing.
Aru’s heart rate kicked up as the city drew into focus. Atop Airavata’s back, Kubera’s eye bounced happily. Had they done it? thought Aru cautiously. Had they really made it back in time and won Kubera’s army and the powerful astra?
Within moments, Airavata had crossed the ocean and made it to Lanka’s center. Aru tried to see if people were running around and screaming, but for all its flashing lights, the area seemed completely empty.
Airavata alighted in Kubera’s private courtyard with a loud whumpf! that rattled Aru’s teeth. Brynne hopped off first. Aru glanced at the palace. It looked just as it had when they left: a line of golden stairs leading to a platform with a single unbroken wall of gold. Doubts and worries flared inside Aru like fireworks. Had they come too late? Would Kubera let them in?
But as soon as Aru’s feet met the ground, the wall of gold instantly melted to reveal an archway waiting for them. In the distance, Aru thought she heard the echoes of clashing weapons. Her lungs constricted.
Brynne swiveled her wind mace, and a soft breeze carried Kara to the courtyard floor. The moment Kara’s body touched it, she opened her eyes and gulped in air. Saranyu had kept her promise.
Kara sat up and looked around her. Sunny the trident glowed brightly on her lap. Then she leaped to her feet, staring around at the Potatoes.
Aru felt awkward. What if Kara blamed them for getting her hurt? Or what if she didn’t remember them at all and hurled Sunny at them? Or…
Kara ran straight at the Potatoes, her arms wide, catching Aru, Brynne, and Mini in a group hug.
“No touchy!” Mini tried to say as Kara threw an arm around her. “Elbow bumps only. Oh, never mind….”
Aru felt a rush of warmth.
“Thank you for saving me,” said Kara, pulling back. “We did it! We got back in time!”
“Maybe…” said Aru, looking at the door. “We have to hurry. Aiden? Rudy?”
Aiden stood off to the side, his face sullen and drawn. “Glad you’re back, Kara,” he said stiffly.
Aru noticed that he was holding his wrist a little strangely. Had he hurt it?
“You okay?” asked Aru, moving toward him.
Aiden stepped back quickly, not looking at her. “I’m fine, Shah.”
Stung, Aru let her arms drop to her sides just as Brynne went to him and shook him lightly.
“Hey,” she said. “Stop that.”
Aiden scowled. “I’m not—”
“Prophecies are weird, and they’ll eat up your brain,” said Brynne. “I mean, for all you know, you could die by eating some weird flower called the Girl You Love.”
“Super reassuring, thanks.”
“If it helps, I am the daughter of the god of death,” said Mini. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you, Wifey.”
Aiden smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I know.”
“What prophecy?” asked Kara.
“It’s nothing,” said Aiden.
“Yeah, it’s nothing,” said Brynne, clapping him on the back. “Just the end of all his romantic aspirations.”
“I didn’t know you had any,” said Aru.
Aiden glanced at her, then looked away. “I don’t. Let’s go.”