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Amalirahc scrambled after Miyuki, but River stayed back to introduce everyone to Earendil and the others, which suited the shy Jess just fine. Jasta tagged along with them, but she was slower than the others.

Wren was chatting cheerfully with the tanner and his wife when Miyuki approached, but when she spotted Miyuki she gave her a welcoming smile.

"Good evening, Miyuki," she said warmly. "You're looking lovely tonight."

"I think everyone is!" Amalirahc spoke up as he pounced into position next to Miyuki. He grinned widely at the princess. "Miyuki has a question for you!"

Wren laughed at the boy. "I suspected as much," she confided to him, her eyes sparkling with laughter. She turned to Miyuki. "And how may I help you?"

Wren's eyes sparkled. "Absolutely," she said warmly. "Their visit is the entire reason for the banquet, it would be pointless if you couldn't sit with them!"

It was only now that Jasta caught up with Miyuki and Amalirahc, and though she was smiling, she was breathing heavily and her face was pale. She curtsied to Wren before turning breathlessly to Amalirahc and Miyuki. "Is it all right?" she asked eagerly.

Wren laughed. "Indeed, yes, yes," she assured her. "And you must be ..."

She turned to Miyuki, waiting for her to introduce the girl.

Jasta curtsied again, this time holding it longer. "Your Highness," she said formally.

Wren smiled and touched one hand to the girl's shoulder. "Welcome, Jasta. I hope that you enjoy your evening."

She glanced up as she spotted her father entering the banquet hall, and leaned down to the three children. "You'd better find somewhere to sit," she told them with a wink. "My grandparents will be entering in a moment, and we should all be seated before then."

Jasta took Miyuki's hand. "Come on, let's go get Jess and River," she urged her.

Jasta started walking quickly toward where River and Jess were still talking to Miyuki and Amalirahc's parents, but within a few steps she slowed down to a moderate pace, her face already paling slightly.

"Hey Jasta, you okay?" Amalirahc asked concernedly when she slowed down. His eyes were filled with anxiety. Of course, he had known Jasta longer than Miyuki and River did, and he knew more about her physical condition.

Jasta nodded. "I just ... shouldn't try ... to go fast," she replied, her words coming in quick breaths.

Fortunately, Jess spotted them coming over, and he tapped River on the shoulder and pointed them out to her. She nodded at him, and the two of them came over to meet the children.

"What's the verdict?" Jess asked eagerly.

"Well, the last empty seats are over here," River pointed at the five empty chairs beside Miyuki's parents. Amalirahc dove for the nearest chair, but Jess shooed him further down so that Jasta could sit there instead. He took a seat beside his sister and pulled out the chair on the other side of him for River, who grinned as she sat down. She tucked the bag from Jess under her chair so that it wouldn't get in the way or get lost. Amalirahc shifted to the end so that Miyuki could sit by River.

Across the room, even Wren and her father were hurrying for their seats in anticipation of the arrival of the rulers.

At the same moment, the music stopped, and the musicians held their hands in their laps and looked at the doors expectantly.

Just as Miyuki scooted into her seat, two guards entered the hall and stepped aside, each of them standing on opposite sides of the door. They were followed by Lord Jaxon, who stood just inside the doorway and announced in a strong voice, "Rise for Their Royal Majesties, King Eregon and Queen Amalthea!"

There was a shuffle of chairs as everyone rose to their feet to show their respect, Wren and Ander included.

When the king and queen entered, they were side by side, and Amalthea's arm was linked inside her husband's. He was dressed in full royal military regalia, black pants, the crimson jacket with gold trimming, a shining gold griffin over one breast. Amalthea was dressed in a shimmering white gown, her black hair piled in swirls atop her head with tendrils hanging just low enough to tickle her shoulders.

They swept majestically up the center of the hall and around the head table to their places. They remained standing just long enough for the king to hold out one hand and say, "Welcome, friends. It really is wonderful to see everyone here. We know, some people would find it laughable that someone would turn down an invitation to banquet here with us, but really." He chuckled. "It's still good to see all of you here. In almost every case, this is our first time of meeting, but we are as glad to see all of you as if we were all old acquaintances."

Amalthea smiled and took her husband's hand, and turned to the others. "Please. While you are our guests, feel free to be yourselves. No pretense, no shows. Above all else, we wish for you to enjoy yourselves."

And with that, they sat down. There was another shuffle of chairs as the others followed suit.

Jess grinned at River. "Nice and short."

Once everyone was seated, Lord Jaxon clapped his hands together twice and a line of servants appeared from behind a curtain in the back wall. Each one brought a large tray of food to one of the tables until all three tables were fully laden with all sorts of steaming dishes: different fruits, vegetables, berries, meats, and more.

Everyone was invited to help themselves to the food that they wanted, and immediately the atmosphere settled into one of ease and comfort. Light chatter filled the hall, dotted with soft laughter.

As the food was eaten, the empty platters were taken away and replaced with more, so that there was always more for the guests to eat. No one was going to be leaving this meal even the slightest bit hungry.

Despite being in the presence of the king and queen, as well as many other people that Jess and Jasta didn't know, both of them very soon got over their shyness as they got used to being where they were. Of course, it helped that Amalirahc was hyper, and therefore silly, even to the point where he would get out of his seat and impersonate someone (usually his opinion of some of the boys that still refused to play with the foreign children). He was quite comedic, and left the children in giggles.