The Candlestick People

Chapter 9

Ummmm..., I send to Willa. This just got interesting.

Yep. I knew they were close, but it's very, very awkward that they're showing it in public.... She sends me a worried look, and I glance at the Princess as she smirks smugly, laughing silently at Sawyer. I'm torn between loving and hating her. She's so funny, but she's a PRINCESS. She's also TEASING SAWYER, but its about me being his girlfriend. If it wasn't me and she was normal, she'd be my best friend. If I didn't find it funny, I'd probably think she was a jerk.

"Awihef, mind your own business. Why are you even here?" Sawyer said pointedly.

"Awihef" rolled her eyes. "Technically, the same reason you are."

"Awihef! Sawyer! That is enough!" The King said imperiously. I say "The King" because you could tell that THAT was what he was. Sawyer and Awihef immediately stopped and adopted chastised faces. "Thank you," he said. Turning to me, he greeted me, "You must be Susan. I am pleased to meet you." I curtsied shyly, and nodded. "Please excuse my children. They do not seem to understand how being royalty is supposed to work. Awihef, you are excused."

"But-"

"Now." He said quietly, but it was so powerful you could see the guards flinch in empathy for her.

Awihef's lips sealed and she walked out as dignified as she could, adjusting her crown.

Or maybe not for the same reason, seeing as I'm still here and I got in just as much trouble as she did, Sawyer thought to me through Rayal Figi. Thank you! Rayal Figi said to me. Ashlic snorts at his gratitude, He's the one who insisted you call him Rayal. Glancing at Sawyer, I saw him flick Rayal Figi's ear. Fine. You can call me Figi.

Got it. I nod to Figi respectfully, though inside I am laughing a little bit. Embarassed amusement seeped through a little bit from Figi as well.

"Susan. Hello?"

I shake my head, returning back to the room.

"Yes?"

The Queen is looking at me with an eyebrow raised, and apparently the King has been speaking for a while when they noticed I was not paying attention. "Are you with us now?"

"Yes. Sorry. I was testing how the communication with my Familiar was working," I blush. "How do you all manage to talk like that while communicating with words?" I ask stupidly. Really, Susan? Sorry? At least say I apologize, and why are you asking them so informally? You're not their equal! I berate myself.

Ashlic pulls herself closer. Don't act like that. You're fine.

As if to prove me right, the royal couple exchanges a disparaging look. "We will let a servant show you later. Could you, if you have the ability, keep your thoughts to yourself, and instruct the same to your familiar?" The Queen says. I wilt a little, and Sawyer glances over at me to give me a worrying look. I nod softly, looking at the floor, afraid of another blunder.

"As we were saying, Susan, there is a problem between the Familiar world and the Candlestick world. Too many people are coming through, compared to people leaving it. Normally there is an equal amount, off by only one or two at a time. But for some reason, lately its been off by hundreds of people. Our world is used to having only our certain number of people, so the new hundreds are throwing off the balance. Soon, our economy will tilt and people will begin to suffer.

"That is why we need you three. You three are known to have been smart, talented, good under pressure, and excellent in diplomatic situations."

Willa snorted mentally. Yeah, right, she thought through Azar.

I send her a laugh and focus again.

"However, normally we would have chosen others because of your immaturity. You are all young, and starting your teen years. You have trouble focusing unless you want to." With this, he glances at me. "You also argue whenever you want," looking much more pointedly at Sawyer. "And you all need to work on those. The only reason we're sending you is because it was supposed to be a punishment for Sawyer, but seeing as we're letting you two go because he begged us it will be more of a joke unless you focus up and keep yourselves from shaming both the royal family and your families as well."

The Queen stepped in. "We'll provide food, tents, whatever you need. If you get lost, though, we're not going to drop everything and come get you. Not even for Sawyer. You get into trouble, you get yourselves out of it. Understood?"

"Yes, your Majesty," I say

"Yes, my Queen," Willa says.

"Yeah, yeah, we got it, mother," Sawyer says impatiently. "Let's go suit up!" He dashes out the room, practically disappearing. And of course the Royals turn red as pomegranates.

Sawyer's gonna get us executed from his going AWOL, I think to myself, bowing to the Royals to ask for permission to leave. Willa quickly mimics me. They nod slowly, controlling the outburst waiting to happen. Sawyer's gonna get a thrashing tonight.

Me and Willa quickly walk out. We ask the guards outside where Sawyer went, and they point left. We are running that way when he slams into me, knocking me to the floor.

"Ow, who-? Oh, Susan. Hey," he smiles a little bashfully, staring down at me. "I was just coming to get you guys. You were walking really slow."

"Wow, thanks. At least we didn't leave our friends behind to have to deal with the possible fury of our parents. Like someone else did," Willa says.

I just shake my head, "Will you just help me up?" I lift my hand up and he grasps it and pulls me up a little too quickly, so he has to catch me against his chest. Wow, his eyes are really green. Little flecks of gold in them, too. I flash to a vision of a forest, calm, peaceful, but full of life. Yep. Perfectly describes him, I think sarcastically.

My logical side catches up and starts shaking me mentally. No. Absolutely not. This is the child that broke into your room and never told you he was royalty in another realm. He's been playing mind games with you since you met, and is therefore a no. No, no, NO. I pull away and clear my throat.

Thankfully, he doesn't notice. Though Willa certainly did. Azar starts sending happy emotions, and screams into my mind for Willa dutifully and thoroughly, AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW  OMGosh MY COUSIN IS IN LOVE WITH A MAN!

AM NOT, I send back forcefully. But I can't help but glance at Sawyer's back as he leads us forward. He's stronger than he looks.