“Sire,” he said, ignoring me and looking at Roki, “we have a problem.”
Roki didn’t get up. He continued to watch the clouds flow by while he talked to the man. They seemed to be acquainted.
“What is it, Neuge? Give me the scoop.”
Neuge’s voice was like cannon fire. “King Zawne has managed to cool the fighting for now,” he said. “A shaky truce has been reached between mainland Nurlie and the shadow government on Nurlie Island. As of now, there will be no referendum. The Ava-Surrvul reinforcements have scattered without their allies. The bloodshed in the streets has ceased. The medical Protectors are administering first aid and handing out antivirals for the KS3 virus. Things are looking up.”
“Surrvul will be back,” Roki said. “They were testing the will of the new king, poking the bear to see which clan leaders did what. Next time, they’ll come stronger and faster and meaner. The other clans aren’t dumb. I’m sure everyone is preparing for a dastardly conflict.”
Roki got up, brushed himself off, and regarded Neuge. Roki looked more severe than I had ever seen him. “But that’s all good news,” Roki said. “So, what’s the problem?”
Neuge hesitated. I saw then that he was a Min. Neuge was so wide that I hadn’t noticed the Valer floating in his core. I thought it was strange that he avoided Roki’s eyes, as if he feared to look straight at him. It was ridiculous, because Neuge could have crushed Roki with one meaty fist. Yet he appeared nervous.
“The problem, sire, is that you’ve been absent for several days since the conflict began. Our people must be given direction. There’s talk of marching even without our allies. The people are restless. Many have lost loved ones because of the virus outbreak. They need an address from their leader. Some are calling for more fires, only this time with casualties by the thousands.”
Leader, I thought. Leader of what? Just who exactly is Neuge, and what the heck is going on? And who is the dragon starting the fires? Is Roki really friends with this dragon character?
I shifted my eyes from Neuge to Roki. “Would you care to explain this to me? I thought we were done with secrets.”
Roki started laughing. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “This is huge news for you. I totally forgot!” Then he said to Neuge, “Leave us. Gather the people, and I’ll be there within the hour to give a speech.”
Neuge bowed. Then he shot high into the clouds and flew away. I was left speechless and confused, glaring at Roki as he doubled over with laughter.
“It’s not funny,” I said. “Seriously, tell me what’s going on. Are you the leader of a spiritual army?”
He took my hand and kissed it gently, his brilliant smile making me melt. “It’s better if I show you. Come, Kaelyn. Should you choose to be with me for the next few centuries, you’re going to need to know my secret job.”
We flew west across the ocean, farther and farther, until I could see Krug’s coastline of sandy beaches.
Roki came to a dead stop fifty miles from land. He hadn’t stopped grinning since the rooftop. “You’re going to love this,” he said. “Hold your breath.”
“No, wait, what are we—?”
Roki took my arm and pulled me downward, laughing hysterically as we plummeted toward the water.
I screamed, “No! I don’t want to get wet!”
But we didn’t hit the water. We passed through it, plunging beneath the surface as if it were an illusion. Then we were hovering inside a hollow tube like a giant drainage pipe.
Roki explained, “I keep all the ports masked using my power. It’s why I have a hard time keeping other things masked for long periods. I divert a ton of my energy to these secret ports. This one is my private entrance to the city. It’s like a metal chimney sticking out of the water, but it’s invisible to anyone who looks at it.”
I had no idea what to say. Secret tunnels? Hidden ports!
“There are other entrances inland, on the beaches of other continents,” he said, “other ports disguised as oil refineries, hatches, and pods that lead many miles below the surface of the ocean. Air locks and security systems. There are passenger trains in metro tunnels in major cities, all disguised by my power. It’s quite high tech. Combined with my Min powers, it’s superior to all else in Geniverd …” He shrugged. “At least, all else that I know about.”
“Where are you freaking taking me?” I blurted. It was hard to keep my panic in check. “Are you trying to say there is an underground tunnel system connecting all six continents to an underwater city?”
Roki’s grin could have eaten the planet. “Yes,” he said, teasing me with his eyes. “Come on, let’s go see it.”
We flew a significant distance underground, gliding through the hollow tunnel until we reached an air lock. Roki hit a button and the door opened. We stood inside a small room while machines groaned.
“It’s for water,” Roki said. “This tank is meant to purge any water before I go into the city. You know, in case my tunnel floods. This tunnel isn’t made for humans. It’s meant just for me. I haven’t even brought another Min into the city this way.”
“So, you’re saying I’m special?” I asked. It was my turn to smirk and tease Roki.
“More than you know,” he said.
The purge system finished. Then the door opened. We walked into a bare, sort of musty hallway and continued until we reached a red-varnished door. Roki stopped with his hand on the knob. “Home sweet home. Welcome to my house, Kaelyn.”
We were in an antechamber. Roki took my hand and said, “This way. Come on.” He led me through his mansion of a house, old picture frames
