Comport

Sammy blinked as Rupert barged into her house without even so much as knocking. “Hello?”

“Oh great! You're here.” Rupert exclaimed.

“Of course, I'm here. It's my house.” Sammy stared at Rupert wondering if he'd lost his mind.

“Right, right.” Rupert muttered mostly to himself. This was the trial he was most unsure about.

“Can I help you with something? It's not yet time for the next trial.” Sammy watched Rupert closely. She'd been told her next trial would take place in the commons in an hour.

“Actually, it is. In fact, the next trial is right now.” Rupert informed her.

“Now? But I'm not ready.” Sammy protested.

Rupert shook his head. “You’re ready enough.”

Sammy blinked and then drew herself up. If the next trial was starting she would need to comport herself with poise and grace and other qualities needed in a good ruler. “Ok. What do I have to do?”

Rupert glanced around uneasily. This was the part he wasn't sure how to do. He had to make her believe that torching her home was a reasonable thing to do. “First, you’ll need this.” Rupert handed her a hand lighter.

Sammy took the lighter. “Ok?” She drawled out slowly and questioningly.

“Now, burn down your house.” Rupert demanded. He couldn’t help adding some dramatics for something like this.

“What?!” Sammy gasped.

Rupert nodded. He’d wired himself for sound and video, so that others could see Sammy’s reactions and provide their feedback later. “If you become heir, you will need to devote yourself to the kingdom. You can’t be bothered by worldly possessions like your home.”

Sammy stared at him in consternation for the longest time. She was willing to do a lot for her kingdom, but she wasn’t sure if she could do this. On the other hand, it was just things. They could all be replaced. Well except for her grandmother’s necklace. She quickly grabbed that and placed it around her neck.

She then led the way outside where she tried to light the foundation on fire with the lighter. She’d expected the lighter to immediately light up and then take a while to catch her house on fire as she doubted her house was made of the most flammable material. Instead, it didn’t seem the lighter was working at all.

Turning to Rupert with a questioning look on her face, she pointed out. “It doesn’t look to be working.”

Rupert took the lighter back. “The test is now over. We’ll let you know the results once the council reaches a decision.”

Sammy blinked and Rupert was gone. She sank back into a chair and curled up, adopting her smaller kitten form instead of her true kitten form.

Tony meanwhile joined the council as they discussed it. He wanted to bang his head against the wall. It was clear that Sammy had passed all of the tests, but the council intended to spend days deciding whether she was fit to become heir or not.

Tony let the idiocy go on for a few hours before his patience ran out. Beyond annoyed, he growled. “Let me make this easy for you. I’m returning to the human dimension tomorrow. Either make her heir or figure out other plans to cover my vacancy.”

Leaving, the idiot council members to ponder that, Tony stomped off to his room.