"About 3 years ago, an organization called the Destishie took over Blessed Porridge-"

"Blessed Porridge? What kind of name is that?" Maurie asked, incredulously.

"I believe it had something to do with a tinker and a fishwife." I said, trying to be helpful. "I'll tell you about it later. I have a feeling that if we don't shut up, Lieutenant Dorre will kill us in a most violent manner."

Commander Jeri coughed, meaningfully, and I smiled mutely at her. She glared at me and continued,

"At first, we were quite pleased and things seemed to continue as they always had but our happiness was short lived. Soon, we were sent into battle against people whom we had thought to be our neighbors and family all because one of the Destishie, and his family, were 'wronged'."

"Things have become ugly in the last year as taxes have risen, criminals have become a regular part of our society, and people have been disappearing, formerly important people. So, the few of us, who still dared to quietly oppose the Destishie, gathered together and decided to start a revolution."

"First, we needed to create a diversion to draw their attention away from our plans to gather an army and then it was only a matter of time before we made our move. But, alas, the cards were stacked against us. They were waiting for us at our next meeting place and, fortunately, most of us got away, however, two others were not so fortunate."

"Eventually, it became impossible to meet and we were reduced to mere moments of speech with each other. So, it all came to head the day I received my medal for 'valor beyond duty', which is what any good officer would do, and I'm afraid I lost my temper."

I snorted and she turned, nostrils flaring slightly, towards me with her eyebrows raised. I swallowed and smiled, "If it were me, I would've lost it long ago. What did you do? Hit the lead criminal?"

She pressed her lips together, momentarily, "Not exactly, no. However, I did say some things which I will never take back, even if you threatened me with torture."

"After that, things escalated and we were forced to work fast, gathering as many loyal soldiers as we could, Joshua Drake, a general from an old, noble, family, set out to the southeast to draw their attention away from us as, we sweep our way through the outlying settlements. So, far there has been no trouble, however, we were on our way to meet an old man by the name of Kohtoc--"

She stopped as I threw my head back and roared with laughter. I snorted, trying to gain control of my amusement, as she looked on, completely bemused and more than a little irritated, while I chortled on, helplessly.

When she started to speak I put my hand up to stop her as, gasping, I sniffed and wiped my eyes. Still breaking into an occasional giggle, I forced my face straight and said, "Sorry, couldn't help it, do carry on."

She frowned and asked, "Why did you laugh? His name isn't that funny."

I blinked, "No, that's not why I laughed, not why at all. Listen, you finish your story and, then, I'll tell you. Deal?"

She stared at me for a while, and then said, abruptly, "Deal. You had better keep your end of the bargain, Mr. Rojinul."

I smiled, "Oh, I will. Guardians Pact."

She frowned and cleared her throat, "Very well, we were looking for this Kohtoc fellow, because the locals said he knew how to bring down a civilization and the art of war was his forte. However, we could not find him and that is when we found you, wandering through our camp like you owned it. So, explain yourself, Mr. Rojinul."

I looked around at all the expectant faces, before resting my eyes on the most expectant face of all, the lovely commander's. I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat, "Well, first off, you did not find me, I found you. And secondly, I don't think I'll tell you why I laughed when you mentioned Kohtoc."

I settled back, with my arms folded, and waited for the silence to break.

A young, 'young' what am I saying, they're all young, man with curling black hair was the first to dip his hand in the still pool.

"Forgive me, if I misunderstand you, sir, but did you not 'promise' to tell commander Snak, after she had finished, why you had laughed when she mentioned the old man?"

He had his eyebrows raised as he asked this and I guessed that he was from a nobler family, than what most of his companions were from, judging by his speech.

I frowned and tried to break it to him, gently, however, before I could open my mouth to spit out the words, Maurie retorted, rather like a pet defending its owner.

"Hey, brat! Don't question him if he chooses to withhold information from suspicious looking strangers! He's a Guard—mhmph!"

I slapped my hand over his mouth as fast as I could and glared down at him.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to pick a fight, Maurie. Can't you see they outnumber us twenty to one? Wait, what am I saying? There is no us, just you and the unfortunate soul that happens to be me. As to your question, yes, I did say that but I did not know at the time, why you were seeking Aani Kohtoc."

A pretty girl, with the rank of private, was quick on the up draw.

"Mr. Kohtoc has the same name as you, did you know him?"

I smiled slightly and ran my fingers lightly over my lips, "Unfortunately, now that I know why you're seeking him, I can't tell you that."

I heard a coughing sound, slightly to my right, as commander Snak gave a bitter laugh and said, "Well, I guess that just proves that I should not trust you."

"On the contrary, commander, I am the only stranger you can trust. I merely do not wish to raise your hopes, in that you will find this…Kohtoc, as you so charmingly wish to have him make all your problems disappear."

I said, with a grimace, as I realized just how arrogant I sounded and, what do you know, the youngster with the black hair piped up, immediately, silencing the fellow next to him with a wave of his hand, "You say that we can trust you and, yet, you won't even tell us one simple thing. How can we, when you have promised and, yet, when the time was upon you, you did not hold to your promise? And, also, whenever you mention Kohtoc, you make it sound like he is dead. Is that the case,sir?"

I closed my eyes and thought about how I would break it to them and then, I realized I did not have to. I looked down at Maurie and sighed, "I am probably making the biggest mistake in my entire existence. Maurie, explain it to them would you. Explain why I don't want to tell them, explain why they can trust, nothing more, nothing less."

I slowly removed my hand from around his muzzle and waited. I was not disappointed.

"What'd ya mean, 'tell only this and only that', what do I look like? A fekking messenger? Listen, Aani, this is as good as it gets, a tough woman in distress and a country to be saved. What are you waiting for a fekking golden platter? This isn't some stupid Guardian job, where nothin' happens and all the wimmins got lip!"

"No, sirree, this here's the real hero deal and I'll tell you right now you tell them why you laughed and if they don't like it you can hit the first a**hole that laughs. What'd ya say? Are you in or are you out, ya fekkin' coward?"

I smiled and tried not to laugh as the 'soldiers' took in what he'd said. I coughed and swallowed, "Well, I suppose I couldn't outdo such a masterful performance, done by such a dramatic player. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to cough up.

"It is a bit hard to say, so, bear with me. You said, commander, that you were searching for this Kohtoc fellow but, first, I must tell you my full name. I am afraid I held out on you, commander, and I was not entirely truthful about my name."

I stood up and swept an elegant bow, ending it with a two finger salute.

"Major General Aani ve Rojinul Kohtoc, at your service, commander."