Page 18 of Bernadette

Halmiko rejoined Tumsa and Doljen, still near the corner. “A man of few words?” the Imdiko teased.

“I was in a hurry to rejoin your company.” Halmiko chuckled when Doljen blushed. “Do we want to go somewhere quieter where we can talk instead of bellow at each other?”

“Sure,” Doljen said, but Tumsa’s features pinched.

Halmiko wedged himself between the two men, arranging it so he could whisper in Tumsa’s ear. “Zakla’s fine. He’s been fine for two years.”

His intended’s shoulders relaxed. Tumsa nodded. “Yeah. I know. Old habits.”

Old habits indeed. Like Halmiko’s unstoppable instinct to check what was in Zakla’s drinking glass or whether his pupils were dilated.

Tumsa shook it off as Halmiko had. He shifted to put Doljen between them. “Are you the type who enjoys moonlit walks on the beach?”

“Depends on who I’m with. Present company appears to be promising.” Doljen waved to someone. A wave answered him, along with a nod of approval from an interning medic for the team.

“Are you acquainted with Imdiko Buvez?” Halmiko asked when they left the private room for the club’s quieter main area. They went past the bar without slowing.

“His Dramok is a friend of the family. He’s also a fellow med student; just about to graduate from general medicine and going on to study as an internist.”

“As well as leaving the team for the capital’s largest hospital,” Tumsa added as they stepped outside.

“Moving up in the world that you’re just entering,” Halmiko said, giving Doljen a shrewd look. “He got you into the party?”

“Was it okay? He made interning with the team doctor sound good and thought it would be worth my while to meet some of you.”

Tumsa chuckled, easing the younger man’s worried expression. “There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of your contacts on the inside of an organization like the Conquerors. What do you think of us so far? Or is it too early to decide?”

“Oh, I was impressed with what I saw on the sidelines during the game. Your medical staff was amazing. They’re so organized. They were on the field the instant someone was hurt, even if a play was still in motion.”

“Ah, so you were there to scout the medical staff. And here I thought you came to watch me.” Halmiko sighed dramatically.

“I watched you play too,” Doljen added quickly. “You were brilliant.”

“I’m teasing you. Trust me, my ego can handle me being out of the spotlight for a few seconds at a time. If I must.”

The Imdiko laughed. “You’re funny. I didn’t expect that. Kurble players look so savage when you’re on the field.”

“We are, but we become soft and cuddly like Joshadans when the game is over.”

Tumsa shook his head, snickering. “If there are words that never apply to you, they’resoftandcuddly.”

“That’s what we want the public to believe. We have an image to protect. If Doljen knew the truth of how we cry while watching tragi-drama vids, how we secretly get together and do each other’s hair, how we write love poetry to those who don’t even know we exist…” He gripped his chest in pretended heartbreak.

Doljen was laughing so hard, he doubled over. He had to stop walking and wait for the hilarity to pass.

“I don’t think he’s buying it, Halmiko.” Tumsa laughed almost as loud.

“We kurble players are too successful in our roles of brutish monsters. No one will ever see through to the drippy, gooey centers of our hearts.”

“Stop,” Doljen wheezed, his hands propped on his knees. “I can’t breathe.”

Halmiko had pity on him and quit joking. Amusing someone to the point of passing out would be a great story, but it wasn’t the best route to attract a potential clanmate.

After a few seconds, Doljen recovered, and they continued out of the bustling marketplace, where the bars would be full until dawn after the home team’s semifinal victory. They made their way to the beach.

From there, Tumsa took over most of the talking with Doljen. He was better by far when it came to interviewing a prospective clanmate without turning it into an interrogation. Halmiko interjected here and there, but for the most part, he simply studied the Imdiko.

He did his best to not admire how the moonlight reflecting off the water played over Doljen’s handsome features, but there was no denying the attraction. He forced himself to focus on the young man’s intelligence, along with his common sense that was years beyond those he’d lived. He appreciated that though Doljen made no secret of his delight to meet someone of Halmiko’s fame, he didn’t engage in silly hero worship.

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