Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,98
clapping once. “How delightful!”
Careful, Shah, came Brynne’s mind message.
Aru bit her tongue to avoid saying anything more.
“By now you’ve seen that you can wield the Nairrata army to do your bidding,” said Kubera. “Well, not all of you. Only those in the possession of a god-given weapon may command it.” He gestured vaguely at only Rudy and Aiden, even though Kara was sitting next to Aru. “It’s super fun to have an army. Very imposing. Plus, a great driver of tourism if you’re thinking about opening up an island resort or some such.”
“Ooh!” said Rudy, perking up.
“Yeah…That’s not exactly a priority at the moment?” said Aru.
Rudy deflated.
“Excuse me, but what exactly are we supposed to do with the army?” cut in Mini.
Aru hadn’t thought of that. If you suddenly owned a ginormous army, did they accompany you everywhere? For a moment, Aru pictured walking into her first day of high school with golden soldiers at her back.
That wouldn’t be so bad….
“Oh yes,” grumbled Kubera. “Your guardians had something to say about all that. Something about how, for your own safety, you should command the Nairrata army to stay in the heavens until summoned.”
“Oh.”
“I know,” said Kubera, sighing. “It reeks of responsibility. But do you agree?”
Aru, Brynne, and Mini looked at one another and nodded. In Aru’s head, as clear and bright as if it were a mind message sent from her sisters, Aru saw the golden army transform. Their mechanical arms and legs shot into their sockets, their helmeted heads popped down into their necks, and their torsos shrank into raindrops that zoomed upward and disappeared into the sky.
“They’re very communicative,” said Kubera.
Aru shook her head a little. She could see her army…in her brain. That was both awesome and unsettling.
“Well, I guess that settles that!” said Kubera, stretching.
“No,” said Aiden. “The astra. It belongs to us now. Like you promised.”
Kubera stopped in mid-yawn. A shrewd look crept into his gaze. With a sigh, he removed the white-gold necklace from around his throat and held it out in front of them.
“As you so desire,” he grumbled. “But I don’t envy you the price of having to wear such a powerful thing. In fact, conveniently forgetting about that part of the bargain was my gift to you.”
According to Kara, this item was capable of destroying the weapons of the gods. Aru hadn’t forgotten what had happened when they’d said the weapon’s full name aloud. It had been like watching the wind, sky, and earth tremble with fear. But it didn’t look particularly scary. It was nothing more than a thumbnail-size piece of gold hanging from a thin gold chain.
“Take it,” said Kubera, offering it to Aru.
She extended her hand. The moment the necklace dropped into her palm, Aru felt an instant hollowing sensation. It was strong, and yet it was the exact opposite of power. Whereas power amplified, the astra erased. It was the kind of negative power that could strip a stately leafy oak into a twig in a manner of seconds. Vajra spooked, transforming from a bracelet to a pure electrical charge that raced up her arms and neck. Aru almost dropped the astra necklace onto the ground.
“Careful, careful!” chided Kubera. “It’s terrible, isn’t it? I tried to make it, I don’t know, less horrible. Sorta like ‘deadly, but make it fashion,’ though it still feels rather…deadly and, if I’m being quite honest, it’s not very fashionable. Very early 2000s. I hate it.”
“We have to wear it?” asked Aru, holding the weapon at arm’s length.
“Like jewelry!” said Kubera brightly.
Aru shuddered. This thing wasn’t a necklace—it was a noose.
“It’s safest when worn on one’s person, yes. After the initial shock, it’s not so bad,” said Kubera. “But you may take turns with it.”
“Like a Horcrux…” Rudy whispered under his breath. “Why do we always end up with Horcruxes?”
“No one’s asking you to wear it,” said Aiden.
“Oh, thank gods,” said Rudy, letting out a breath. “That chain would clash with all my outfits.”
“Who wants to go first?” asked Aru.
At the same time, Mini hollered, “NOSE GOES!”
Brynne and Mini clapped their hands over their noses. Aru scowled, then put the chain around her neck. When the golden shard of the astra hit her skin, she felt like she’d been thrown into a snowbank. A minute later, though, the feeling passed.
“Uncomfortable, yes,” said Kubera. “But a necessary precaution. Now all you must do is declare those who are allowed to take it from you. No one else will be able to.”