[It takes a good moment for Alphinaud to register just what Aymeric means by 'untouched'. Habit relays the definition as injured, but given a second to think, he realizes exactly what is meant. And the flush returns, though just to the tips of his ears.]

I-- N-no, I have not been... touched.

[His eyes glance away, as if searching for the missing cat, but really it's an effort to steady himself. He hadn't even thought of the possibility.]

... we shall see what happens, I suppose. I am not fit to be a guard, and I would rather keep close, as it were. [To keep an eye out, he means. Staying in the village is all well and good, but he would rather keep his enemies close. After a moment, he looks back up, pointedly ignoring the apparently mandatory uniform.] I assume guards stay in the castle as well?