Messengers and companions wasting time (8)
I believe the answer is:
couriers
'messengers' is the definition.
('courier' can be a synonym of 'messenger')
'companions wasting time' is the wordplay.
'companions' becomes 'courtiers'.
'wasting' suggests deleting specific letters.
'time' becomes 't'.
'courtiers' with 't' removed is 'COURIERS'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for couriers that I've seen before include "Guides" , "They carry messages" , "motorcycle messengers" , "Messengers, now often on motor-bikes" , "Message carriers" .)