Cat and Mouse (2)

Once the guard had stepped out to speak, he went all in. No longer would he fear the consequences of what might happen. Someone had to say something to end their torment, and it was going to be him.

"My Lady it's not that we can't speak, but that we don't dare to," the guard said hesitantly.

"And why is that?" A-Narah asked confused.

Seeing A-Narah not taking offense the guard grew firmer with his words, "My Lady you are the loved and respected employer of your father. If he was to know of this breach our very lives could be in danger."

A-Narha turned her head to the side in an effort to hold back her laughter. Was this a case of them thinking too much or thinking too little? The only way her father would learn anything is if the guards reported it themselves. She could never contact her father again. Just thinking that they would tell her father of every little thought up transgression they would make, made A-Narah want to laugh. How had her father found such loyal and innocent guards? They really were cute. Even though the last bit of mistrust she had for them had now shriveled up, she still would not tell them of their misconception. It was safer for her to keep them in the dark. It was an added amount of security.

"You don't have to worry about that," A-Narah spoke. The guards hearing this all let out deep sighs of relief. "That is, I won't report of this happening to him as long as you treat me like an person. I don't like my presence being overlooked."

The guards looked at one another, shocked. This was too bold! A fine lady living among rough men like them. It was something her reputation could never recover from.

"What is it… you exactly want us to do my Lady?" a guard stuttered.

"Well first I would like you to introduce yourselves. So far, I only know you as Guards Black Horse, Bow, Cook, Tidy, and Launch." The guards understood that the names she gave them described them in some way, but there was one they couldn't figure out.

"Launch, my Lady?" asked one of the guards.

A-Narah pointed to the skinniest guard in the middle. "Yes, Launch, because if he moves right after a meal, he has to… umm… expend the contents of his well…" A-Narah patted her stomach. Launch, the guard she was pointing to turned beet red.

It was crass for a lady to speak words that dealt with bodily functions, so A-Narah felt uncomfortable saying vomit or stomach.

The guard, newly dubbed Launch, knew what she meant and covered his face to try to hide his burning cheeks, "My-my Lady!" he cried in a very feminine shriek.

Seeing this all of the guards roared with laughter.

"Launch, that's a pretty good name!"

"HAHA! We will just change it then."

"What? Why not Chunk or Hurl?"

They all kept laughing and Launch thought that his face might just melt away it was burning so badly.

"Well it seemed indelicate to be that straightforward," said A-Narah in reply.

One of the guards wiped his tears away and stepped forward, "Well my Lady you can just keep calling that man, over there with the girly reactions, Launch, it's much better than his real name anyway." The man who spoke was to one who had spoken to her earlier. He had light brown hair and a mole at the top of his cheekbone. "You can call me Lael."

Lael grabbed the shoulder of the guard next to him and forced him forward to introduce himself.

"My name is Uzzi."

Without needing help the next guard said, "I'm Uri. I specialize with the bow." Uri looked almost identical to Uzzi, and most people mistook them as twins, but they were actually not related at all. The best way to tell them apart was that Uri always carried his precious crossbow.

The last one was Elon, who tended to be quiet and keep to himself.

"Where did you get your names?" A-Narah asked.

Lael took charge of the role of ambassador for the guards and answered, "When we were brought into the household by the Lord, he gave us these names. The names are derived from the Old Book of the Gods, so we are very honored to have them. To have such names shows how much the Lord expects out of us, and we want to live up to it."

"If your names are so important is it really okay to change Launch's so arbitrarily?" A-Narah asked worried.

"No, My Lady," spoke Launch. "I was born from servants in the estate. So, my name was given by them."

"But even so it's the name your parents gave…," she trailed off.

"Trust me my Lady, this name is much better than his old one," Uri said.

"And-and it is an honor to be named by the Lady," Launch took the opportunity to reassure her while blushing again.

Really his original name must be something unique. Too be so grateful for a name that came from him vomiting, was really… different.

A-Narah promised herself that someday, she would find out what that name was. She thought about asking now, but she could tell that she would definitely be refused. It had to be something terrible she thought.

Lael brought her wandering thoughts back to the conversation, "My Lady there is one other guard."

"I hadn't noticed one. Is he a secret guard?" She was a bit excited by this prospect.

"No, my Lady. He has gone ahead to scout. He leaves us signals to tells us that everything ahead is safe. Actually, he is our captain. He went forward by himself because he is the strongest. He will be able to take care of himself, and be able to warn us before it is too late. With him around you will be safe."

"Oh? If he is so strong Why didn't he stay by my side to protect me?"

"Well my lady you are only as strong as your weakness, and you are a very big weakness. If you pardon me, if we get into a fight you are a distraction. Our mission is to protect you and our lives our yours. If leader had to watch out for you in a fight, he wouldn't be able to fight at full strength."

"I see," A-Narah said, but she really didn't. She didn't understand how she would get in the way of any battels. It's not like she would be joining in them. She would just be hiding off to the side.

"And what do I call him?"

"You can call him Ira."