“We are the Pandavas,” said Brynne, lifting her chin.
“But not me,” said Aiden quickly.
The customs officer scowled at them. “No Pandavas,includingtheir associates, are welcome in Naga-Loka, the illustrious”—the naga said it likeillustriousss—“capital of the naga kingdom, by the order of Queen Uloopi.”
“But we’re trying tohelpQueen Uloopi,” protestedAru. “She’s the one who sent us on this trip to find the bow and arrow, and—”
“Ah.Youmust be the daughter of the Lord of the Heavens,” said the officer. “Lord Takshaka, guardian of the treasure room, left special instructions for you.”
Aru remembered the scornful naga man who had sat next to Queen Uloopi high above the clouds. What was that guy’sproblem?
Just then, the floor opened beneathAru, plunging her into frigid pitch-black water. Vajra immediately changed from a bolt to a bracelet, leaving her hands free. Her head came back up to the surface quickly, but as she tried to keep herself afloat, she accidentally swallowed a mouthful of the seawater and started coughing.
“ARU!” screamed Mini and Brynne.
Aiden scrambled forward, trying to grab her hand, but the nagini officer’stail whipped out and sent her friend flying backward. As Mini bonked the guard with Dee Dee, Brynne extended her mace to Aru. She tried to grasp it, but her fingers kept slipping. Finally, she got a hold….
But apparently she wasn’t alone in the water.
A cold tendril wrapped around her ankle and dragged her under.
