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Unfortunately, Owen was closest to the ball now, and he got control of it quickly. He gave it a mighty kick towards the goal, and it sailed just past Amalirahc's fingertips for the first goal of the game.

"Goooooooooooal!" the boy cried gleefully, giving Liam a high five as the two boys ran back to their side of the field.

Amalirahc grinned as he tossed the ball to Jess. "It was a good try, Miyuki!" he called to her. "Good work!"

They kept playing for a while, and though each team ended up scoring, the three boys ended up with more goals than the other team. Still, everyone had fun with it, and when they stopped for a break, they were all grinning.

"Come meet my sister," Jess grinned at River and Miyuki. "She has snacks for everyone!"

Halmir was sitting with Jasta, and the two were in conversation when the others arrived. Even before the other children arrived, Jasta had the basket open and was digging things out of it.

"Jasta!" Jess grinned, motioning for the others to sit down. "This is River and Miyuki."

Jasta smiled at the girls, looking at them through long lashes. "Hello," she said shyly, her cheeks slightly pink.

"Thank you," Jasta replied quietly, still smiling shyly. "It's nice to meet both of you. Jess was very happy yesterday when he came home, much happier than usual."

Jess had pulled a blanket out of the basket and was in the process of spreading it out with Amalirahc's help, but when he heard his sister's comment, he looked up at her, his face a bright shade of red.

River giggled. "Well, we were happier than usual yesterday, too," she told Jasta.

"You were, at least," Halmir deadpanned.

Jasta's smile grew wider as her brother looked deliberately down at the blanket he was spreading.

"I think he's wonderful, too," she said warmly, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Not everyone has the patience that he does. He loves playing football with the other boys, even though they're mean to him, and he always makes sure that every day he spends time with me, too, even though I can't play football or anything that requires running around."

River blinked at her. "You're not good at it?"

Jasta shook her head. "I can't breathe. I was in a fire when I was little, and even though the healer healed me so that I don't have scars from it, he couldn't help my lungs. So I can't breathe if I'm doing something active."

"When I can," Jasta smiled. "Usually I can't stay long, though, not more than half a morning. But Mama said - oh, Jess, let me help you put out the snacks," she interrupted herself, moving to help her brother take the snacks from the basket and set them out on the blanket.

"No, I'm okay," he protested gently. "You can keep talking with River and Miyuki, I'll get it."

"You're sure?"

"Yup!"

Jasta nodded and sat down, and looked back at River and Miyuki. "Today Mama said she would send some snacks with so that if Jess's new friends came, we could share with you!"

River grinned widely. "That's awful nice of her! I wish we could say thank you ourselves, but could you make sure to say thank you to her for us?"

"Of course!" Jasta beamed.

"Eep!" River squealed and jumped, then poked Miyuki back. "Yes, yes, but I was going to ask Jess," she frowned. "Don't poke me!"

Jasta blinked at the girls. "Dinner?" she asked slowly. "I thought you were just visiting the city ..."

"We're staying at the palace," River explained. "Miyuki's father is the queen's nephew. But I asked last night and they said it would be fine for your family to come for dinner sometime! We just have to let them know ahead of time."

Jasta's eyes grew wide, as if she couldn't believe her ears. "Seriously?!"

Just at that moment, Jess came over to the girls. "Snacks ready," he told them with a gentle smile.

Without giving Miyuki or Jasta a chance to say anything, River blurted out, "Jess, you and you family are invited to come for dinner at the palace sometime with us, whenever it works for your family!"

Jess stared at her, clearly having difficulty processing what he had said, and Jasta giggled at him.

"It's true! They're staying at the a lace and the king and queen themselves said we could come!" she told him.

Jess's face flushed a bright shade of red. "Wow ... thank you so much!" he said, his tone filled with awe. "I'll tell Mama and Papa when we go home later!"