but be wary of those to whom you serve lip,
for there is a tale beyond that soon you shall see—”
“But all that depends on your surviving the sea,”Varuna finishedwith a grin.
Varuni blinked, and then frowned. “You rhymedseawithsee?”
“What’s wrong with that?” demanded Varuna.
“It’s lazy,” said his wife.
“Homonyms are not lazy. They aresubtle.”
“Subtly lazy.”
“You—”
“Excuse me,” said Aru, “but Ihaveto get to the naga treasury. I need to find someone’s soul song. And, um, my dad sent me here, so I was thinking, you know, because we’re like familyand all—”
The Lord of the Waters laughed. “Do you think I care? No offense, of course. But not even the great king Rama—”
“‘—who was Lord Vishnu himself and had been reborn in the form of a mortal man, could control me, for I am the great and tempestuous sea, and none can rein in my power,’” recited Varuni in a bored voice. “We know, dear.”
Varunasulked for a minute, and then shook it off.“It is curious, Pandava, that you do not even know what it is you seek. It is the soul song of the thief, yes? And then you must speak the thief’s name to discover the location of the stolen bow and arrow…. But how will you find out the name?”
Aru’s spine tingled. She hated that the god was right. Part of her had hoped the thief’s name would be written on the back of the soul song, like a tag,but something told her that wasn’t going to be the case.
“If you know that much,” Aru said, “then do you also know who took the bow and arrow? Could you tell me?”
Varuni inspected the nails of three of her hands. Her drinking vessel had changed to an iced copper mug. “The sea gives—”
“And takes,” chimed in Varuna.
“It is generous—”
“But not prone to charity.”
Which was fancy godspeak forNOPE. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN.
“But we can grant you straight passage to the treasury,” said Varuna. “It is a secret route, and none shall discover you. All you have to do is satisfy the whims of my guard pet.”
Aru snuck a glance at the crocodile now napping in the corner. It had flipped onto its back, its stumpy legs twitching like a dog having a dream.
“It’s very hungry,” said Varuni. “So you onlyhave to fill its belly.”
Aru did not trust the gods. She lifted her chin. “Youcanget me to the naga treasury, or youwill?”
Varuni laughed. “I like you, daughter of Indra,” she said.
“Iwillhelp you, child,” said the Lord of the Waters. Heclappedhis hands and a small blue crab scuttled into the hall. “The illustrious Pandava girl has agreed to fill the beast’s belly,” Varuna said. “Showher the way.”
The crab bowed to the gods and waved one pincer to Aru, motioning her to follow.
Aru waited for a moment. Varuna and Varuni hadn’t exactly been kind, and she might not like them very much …
But that didn’t mean she didn’t respect them.
If Boo were here, he would’ve pecked her ears for not showing respect sooner.
At least I eventually remembered, she thought, as she walked forward.
Aru bowed her head and performedpranamaby touching the feet of the two gods. She felt Varuna’s and Varuni’s hands at her shoulders, drawing her up. Varuni’s glass had changed to a flute of sparkling champagne.
“See well, daughter of the heavens,” said Varuni.
For his part, Varuna said nothing, as he was once again absorbed in the cricket game.
