displayed ‘marks of honor’, the scars of past battles. They were capable of pleasant conversation and good manners—which was how most conducted themselves in civilized company. Yet none ever doubted how fast they could turn deadly, should the occasion to do so arise.
The Nobek seated in the inn’s dining area was singular even among his own kind. At just a shade under seven feet, Japohn was big and muscled enough to awe his fellow members of the warrior caste. He’d spent much of his career intimidating thugs and criminals. With the exception of his mother, most missed how handsome he was because he’d grown so used to scowling. He had the suspicion he frowned in his sleep too.
He’d claimed a table in the corner and slightly hidden by a potted plant out of habit. It would have been nicer to sit near the arches that opened the space to the sunlit outdoors. The table was small for such a big fellow, and he grimaced to think how ridiculous he probably looked sitting at it. He was making that face as his waiter brought the first of what would be at least three breakfast trays. The Dantovonian, who appeared as a bizarre combination of insect and amphibian, slowed his crawling approach. It buzzed slightly with nervousness, the dishes on its tray clattering. Its segmented features worked in agitation, its lidless eyes never leaving its customer, as if certain Japohn would leap across the table to throttle it.
The Nobek made an effort to appear more pleasant, and the waiter left his selection of plates before hurrying away, hop-crawling on long, thin limbs.
Japohn dug in. What the inn lacked in appearance and location, it remedied in the kitchen. With an appetite to match his size, Japohn soon polished off round one of breakfast and signaled for the next.
As another steaming tray of mostly meats arrived, he noticed a pair of Kalquorians entering the dining room. His gaze followed them as they chose a table on the other end of the room.
They were younger than him. He wasn’t that old himself, but he’d been out of training camp for over a decade. Nobeks tended to mature faster than the other breeds—at least, that was Japohn’s opinion—so the fresh faces of the other two Kalquorians gave them an almost juvenile aspect.
One was obviously an Imdiko, and adorable to boot. His smile was pure innocence that caused Japohn to smile too. He was pretty sure the other fellow was a Dramok. A handsome fellow. Both were in the prime of life, their expressions belonging to those who’d not encountered too many world-shaking disappointments yet.
They huddled at their table after putting in their orders, talking and laughing with an intimacy that woke an ache in the Nobek’s chest. They were definitely lovers. Possibly clanmates, since Imdikos didn’t tend to remain unattached long into adulthood.
Japohn chewed his food absently, observing the happy couple with envy. If life had been different—if he had been different—he could have hoped to attract the good fortune they’d found with each other. Clan. Family. Love.
I hope you boys appreciate what you appear to have.
Of course they couldn’t. Most Kalquorians were pack creatures, eager to surround themselves with others. They didn’t know the pain of those whose lots dictated they remain alone. Those like Nobek Japohn, who was forced time and again to anticipate a solitary future because he was driven to do things his way, with a marked inability to compromise.
He knew his destiny was to remain unclanned. Yet Japohn couldn’t keep from watching the young men and dreaming about what would never be his.
He was half through his third tray of food—the pair he’d conceived an instant fascination for were finishing their first and probably only plates—when his com went off. He unclipped it from his loaded utility belt. Even when not on a job, Japohn couldn’t stand not having his tools and weapons on hand.
Except for his percussion blaster. Dantovonian authorities frowned upon anyone roaming their planet armed with anything more lethal than blades. Even when he was on an approved mission that brought him to the otherwise freewheeling world, Japohn was limited in when he could carry such a weapon. Since he wasn’t working, that lovely piece of bedlam was locked tight in his room’s safe. Mother of All save any fool who’d dare to break in and steal it.
He checked the incoming frequency on his com. A rare grin took over his features.
His deep rumble of a voice was