He reads Wilhelm's expression, and his heart hurts for the young man. Basawar might be more extreme in its ways, but Nayeshi has its own flaws and cruelness.

At the question, he just shakes his head again.

"Nothing. We separated and I lost track of him. When we met again... we were both different people."

It's a version of the truth. John got away from him, and thirty years passed in the White Space. Two more years of not realizing that the Rifter and Jath'ibaye were the same person. And when they met again he couldn't recognize the young man he'd grown to love in the warlord that held him by the throat and threatened to kill him.

It was only fair, he supposed. There's something wistful in his expression.

"How did you two meet?"