Clan and Conviction (Clan Beginnings) Read Free Page B

that.
    His new partner shrugged.  “It’s true.”  Then he looked Gelan over with frank evaluation.  “You look better than ever, but who knows?  Maybe in the years that have passed, I built you up to more than what you actually were.”
    Gelan nodded his agreement.  “We were very young.  I suppose I idealized our relationship as well, because no other Nobek ever came close.”
    The Dramok felt good to know they were on the same page.  But then, they always had been.  Gelan tried to push aside the ease of falling back into the old patterns, the idea that he knew what Wynhod was thinking just by the other man’s expression.  It had been seven years.  Surely it couldn’t be the same as it was before.
    Wynhod tried to scuttle that theory by speaking almost exactly what had been in Gelan’s head.  “It will be interesting to see if it’s anything like what we remember.  Of course, time changes men.  It could be we’ll end up despising one another.”
    Gelan snickered and shook his long, cornrow braids back.  “I hope not, since you’re my enforcer.”  That gave him a less uncomfortable dialogue to pursue.  “What’s your kill rate?”
    “Ninety-seven percent.”
    His tone was matter-of-fact, not boastful at all.  Gelan whistled, giving him his due nonetheless.  “Damn.  Why aren’t you a sniper?”
    “I’ve thought about it.  The trouble with that assignment is the killing is a little too clean.  I still like getting in people’s faces, giving them a chance to shoot back.”
    Gelan laughed.  Some things you couldn’t expect to change, especially when it came to a Nobek.  Wynhod had always appreciated a good fight and odds to overcome.
    Their food arrived via a hover cart that wove its way through the tables.  They grabbed their plates and cups of curdled ronka milk.  Gelan was amused to see Wynhod still put his full concentration on eating, not showing interest in anything else until his plate and drink were almost empty.  He didn’t come up for air until then.
    Wynhod gave him a considering look, one that in the old days would have meant his next comments were going to lead up to something he wanted.  Gelan cocked an eyebrow at him and waited.
    The Nobek’s question sounded innocent enough.  “Do you still hunt?”
    Gelan nodded.  “I went to Sarkoz last year and caught the third biggest ongribirt on record.  They found someone’s leg in the thing’s gut and the rest of him in its nest.  It turned out it had grabbed a villager the night before.”
    Wynhod gave him a snide grin.  “Only the third largest?”
    Gelan made a face at him.  “It was an off day.”
    “I wouldn’t mind a hunt.  You’ll have to tell me where the good places are.”
    It was on the tip of the Dramok’s tongue to offer to take him hunting.  Instead, he switched topics.  “No doubt you still mountain climb.  Is that why you came here?  I think the peaks of this territory compares pretty well with our old one.”
    “You didn’t think I transferred here just to be near you, did you?”
    The challenge had been made, Wynhod knowing full well Gelan would meet it head on.  Gelan decided not to surprise him.  “Did you?”  He sighed and met his former lover’s eyes.  “Wynhod, we haven’t spoken since I left seven years ago.  Why would I think you came here for me?”
    The Nobek considered him for a few seconds before answering.  “Neither of us is a sentimentalist.  Trying to maintain a relationship over long distances wasn’t going to happen.”
    “Which is why we agreed we wouldn’t try.”
    Wynhod shrugged.  “I have missed you though.  Like I said, no other Dramok compared.”
    Gelan nodded.  He had missed Wynhod too.  Even with a nice selection of unclanned Nobeks to choose from, he hadn’t ever thought of clanning any of them for a single moment.
    Wynhod gave him a roguish look.  “That being said, I can’t flatter you by saying you were the reason I pushed