(A/N: Ughh, Sorry for not updating for a little while again. The next update will be as soon as tomorrow, and as late as Easter. I promise that I'll try as hard as I can to update ASAP. Sorry again!)

Chapter Five: Shiara's Cousin

"Well… uh… you see, it's kind of funny…there was this… and they sent…" I felt the color draining from my face as I struggled to find something to say.

I fiddled with my hands, then hesitantly looked up at the king. He was still smiling. Suddenly, from the middle of no where, he winked.

For a moment I just stared at him, wondering if his eye itched. Then I realized what he was trying to say—He knew. The dragons had told him. I was safe to pretend I was going along with the wizard's plan.

"Uh, well, I'm a distant relation of Shiara's…"

xxxxx

The lead wizard, Zielin, sighed in relief as Samiel got back on track. For a moment he had been worried that the idiot had forgotten what he was supposed to say! Zielin frowned as he recalled the king's words.

"So, the dragons sent you?"

How had he known! Then Zielin recalled Suz. The little gold lizard must have told him the lie that Samiel had managed.

The head wizard smiled to himself. Perhaps Samiel would be able to pull this off, after all. He cleared his mind of thoughts and continued watching the events through a large mirror that was hanging on the wall of his office.

xxxxx

I was a little bit shaky at first. I wondered, once, how the dragons had figured out what the wizard's plan was… then I remembered that the dragons were watching me, too, and had probably heard the entire thing.

Dismissing these problems from my mind, I tried to concentrate on what to do. I had to make it look like I was following the wizard's plan, without actually doing what they said. It was even harder than it sounded.

King Mendenbar cleared his throat, and I quickly looked up.

"This is my son, Daystar." he announced, "He knows Shiara better than I do. Perhaps he can help you, Samiel. You are very welcome here." Mendenbar grinned, and I smiled weakly.

Daystar was actually about my age, with dark hair and a kind smile. I hoped that he knew what was going on, too. Otherwise, I was about to be in a lot of trouble.

"Hello, Samiel. So you're Shiara's cousin. It's funny… you're just how I pictured you to be."

I chanced a glance at myself in the mirror. It wasn't how I would picture a fire-witch's cousin. First of all, I didn't have red hair. Then there was the undeniable fact that I was small, skinny and shaking in my boots.

I gave Daystar a questioning look, but he just grinned and shook my hand. "Nice to meet you, Samiel. I hear that Shiara's friend took a liking to you. She told me herself that you looked good enough to eat."

I felt all of the color drain from my face again, realizing what he was implying. So he did know. Well, that was good, but the fact that Kazul wouldn't mind eating me didn't exactly make me feel any better in the least.

"Y-yeah…" I gulped, "Hopefully she doesn't mean it, though."

Daystar just smiled.

xxxxx

I was given a tour of the castle (which really didn't help at all, because I immediately forgot everything the moment I was told.) The palace was extremely confusing, with its many staircases and curving corridors. I got the feeling that I was only being showed this so that they made sure I could see for myself that I had no chance of escaping.

As if I would even try! No, with both of the dragons and the wizards watching me 24-7, there was no doubt that I wouldn't be able to get very far without being killed on the spot.

I shuffled my feet as I walked, and stared at the ground. At the moment, Daystar was having a grand old time showing me the double security locks.

Suddenly he trailed off, staring behind me with a somewhat surprised, (though undoubtedly happy), look on his face.

I turned around to see…

Oh no. Not her!

"Cousin!" Shiara shouted, running all of the way down the corridor and throwing her arms around me. "The king told me you were here! Oh, I'm so happy to see you!"

I blinked at her, not returning the hug. Eventually, she stopped.

What the heck was wrong with her!

"It's nice to see you too, c-cous…" Oh, gosh… cousin! I was supposed to be a distant relation. That was going to be my excuse if she didn't recognize me. I wondered what the wizards were thinking right now, because she had recognized me. I hoped this hadn't blown my cover…

xxxxx

Daystar pulled Shiara aside while Samiel stood in the middle of the corridor with a dazed, (and, of course, scared) look on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered quickly, making sure that Samiel couldn't hear him. If Samiel heard him, then chances were the wizards could hear him, too."

"Well, it's a shot in the dark, but we figured the wizards would believe that I am a dim-wit. Some of them used to know me, but the leader won't listen. Since I'm supposedly a "princess" now, we thought that he would probably assume I'm like all of the others."

"But what are you doing here?"

"Keeping an eye on Samiel. Kazul wanted me to make sure he didn't betray us, or try to trick us."

Daystar raised an eyebrow. "Him?"

Both of their gazes went to Samiel, who was busily watching a fly buzz around nearby, apparently determining how dangerous it could be.

Shiara fought back a smile. "Yes, well, you never know."

Daystar caught the fly and set it loose outside. Samiel looked relieved, but appeared to notice that they had been having a conversation. He frowned.

"Well, I'm glad you're here." Daystar said loudly.

Shiara smirked. "So am I."

xxxxx

Zielin had to admit, he was slightly confused over the whole situation. How had Princess Shiara known him?...

…But then, she was a princess, and princesses weren't exactly known for their intelligence.

One of the wizards who saw this take place cleared his throat uneasily. "My lord, Shiara… She shouldn't know him—"

Zielin shrugged. "She's a princess. Princesses are generally beautiful and stupid, remember?"

"Generally… but not this one. She was responsible for some of the wizard deaths from a little while ago—"

Zielin shrugged. "So were some of the heroes. That doesn't make them clever, does it?"

"But she—"

"Hush, Rynid."

"Yes, sir, but I believe that something isn't right, here."

"I said be quiet! Everything is fine."

Rynid frowned, but said nothing.

(A/N: Yay, I updated! Now I have to update on a few more stories, and everything will be happy and grand! )

Hilary -