Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,48

head and the torso argued.

Brynne took a step forward, and Rahu swung to face them.

“You,” he said.

“Oh, right—them,” said Ketu, waving his tail. “How do you do?”

Aiden shoved Rudy forward. The naga boy trembled for a moment, then took a deep breath, fixing the dragon parts with an imperious stare. He raised his hand, and the scales on his wrist shimmered.

“I am Prince Rudra of Naga-Loka, and this is my entourage,” he said, his voice wavering only a little. “I’m here to enter the crypt, which I’ve visited many times with my parents. My father has a chamber here, and—”

Rahu sniffed the air, moving closer.

“We are requesting entry,” Rudy finished quickly.

Aru had to hand it to Rudy. She didn’t think she’d be able to keep her cool if a disembodied dragon head struck up a conversation with her.

“The presence of gods was detected,” said Rahu. “We do not allow gods into this crypt. They may send an attendant, but they themselves are not welcome here.”

“Do we look like gods to you?” asked Aiden. “I mean, seriously. Maybe your alarm system is faulty.”

“Maybe a god snuck past?” tried Brynne. “We’ll go inside with you to check—”

“Ha!” Rahu snorted. “Even we are not permitted past the Door of Shadows.” His eyes rolled in its direction.

“We only guard its entrance,” added Ketu. “Which is preferable, really. I don’t like the crypt—it’s very drafty in there.”

A spark of hope shot through Aru. If the dragons couldn’t go in, all the Pandavas had to do was figure out how to get through the door without the guardians noticing…which meant they needed a distraction.

“We’ll have to see some identification,” growled Rahu.

“Please,” added Ketu.

Aru glanced at the hem of her pants, where the coiled-up sticky threads were disguised as embroidery. A plan formed in her head. Through their mind link, she quickly shared it with her sisters.

Aru took a step forward. “We need some ID from you, too. How do we know you really are Rahu and Ketu?”

“You want us to prove our identities?” Rahu was so insulted his nostrils started smoking again.

While Mini whispered the plan to Aiden and Rudy, Brynne started to pace.

Rudy said, “You’ve never been here when I’ve come with my mother or father. We always head straight to the door and trust the yalis inside to act as security guards.”

“Yeah,” said Brynne. “I mean, why would the great and fearsome Rahu and Ketu be protecting the entrance to their own crypt?”

“I am great,” said Ketu delightedly. “I think I shall add that to my list of morning affirmations, right after ‘Though I am a half, I am whole.’”

Aru bent down and pretended to adjust her shoelaces. Her fingers brushed the enchanted swirl designs on her pant legs. At her touch the threads separated from the fabric, entwined, and elongated to form a sticky translucent rope. Aru quickly balled it up and tossed it to Aiden.

He caught it with a sharp clap.

Rahu swiveled to face him.

“Couldn’t agree more,” Aiden said, his hands clasped in front of him like he had just finished applauding. “Give it up for the yalis.”

Mini quickly changed the subject. “You don’t seem to like gods very much,” she said to the dragon body.

Rahu snorted. “The gods are liars! Despicable! Tricksy!”

Aru couldn’t help herself. “Hobbitses?”

“Hobbitses?” Rahu blinked. “Is that a profanity of the human realm?”

“Sure,” said Aru.

Aiden cast her a look that clearly said Why are you like this, Shah?

Rahu grumbled, “Then they’re all tricksy hobbitses, and we hate them.”

By now, Aiden had tossed the sticky ball to Mini.

“Hatred solves nothing,” said Ketu peaceably. “Hey—what are you doing there? I hear footsteps.”

Mini, who was sneaking behind the dragon head while trying to unwind the rope, froze. In the firelight from Ketu’s torso, the cord was slightly visible. Aru hoped his vision was weak…given that he didn’t have any eyes.

“Just trying to appreciate, um—”

“All angles of the situation,” finished Aru loudly.

Ketu turned back toward Aru.

“Are there other split dragons like you?” she asked.

Rahu huffed. “It is impossible to be like us! We were created by the gods!”

“By accident, perhaps,” mused Ketu. “But Rahu is correct. We’re unique, because nobody could’ve been made like us….”

“Made?” prompted Brynne, while Mini looped the middle of the cord around a pillar. It stuck fast.

The fire atop Ketu’s back roared as it climbed higher. “It was a terrible day,” he moaned. “So much walking. My legs and feet and tail ached horribly….”

Images formed in his wall of flames, showing the devas and asuras churning the Ocean