Manus Pluma Volantis

14 - The Mage's Tavern

They arrived in The Mage's Tavern. A restaurant. A new one in Neolandia. It opened as a tribute to Callum. Their hero. Of course, there was no tribute to Rayla. She was an elf. They didn't believe she did the things she did. They didn't believe she killed off that arrogant beast of a man. They thought she was the same as the elves in their ridiculous fairy tales.

Callum had his hand on her shoulder. She had to feel respected. She deserved to be. They welcomed Ezran with open arms. They stared, goggle-eyed, at Callum, but they let him pass. They stopped Rayla and pointed to the door. "Hey! No. No, no. You are not just gonna force her out of here because she's not human. Elves are just like us! But better! Admit it! You know it's true," Callum yelled at the waiter.

"But Prince Callum-" "No! I'm not having it! You are going to let her pass!" "Callum! Calm down," Rayla interrupted him. "He is just trying to do his job." "I don't care what his job is! This is discrimination!" "Please, you're making a scene!" Rayla tried, but Callum would not listen.

"You are gonna let her sit down at that table." "Yes, sir," the guard replied. He was shaking in his boots. Rayla sat down, but frowned at Callum. "Hey, I helped!" he defended. "Did you, though?" Everybody shook their heads. "Sorry! I don't know. I don't like it when people do that." He put a hand over hers. Soren glanced between them. "Hold on... Are you too..." He gasped. "What you didn't catch on earlier?" Callum inquired. Soren, jaw still hanging on its hinges, shook his head.

"Not surprised." "Rayla! That's mean!" She laughed. Callum laughed. Ezran frowned. "Meanies," he muttered. This even caused Soren, the receiver of the insult, to chuckle. The waiter came and stared at Rayla. She waved at him, which did not make him feel any better about her. "May I take your orders?"

"Uhhh, right. Um... Yikes. These are expensive! Uhhh... Shoot. The... no." Callum had always been very indecisive. Rayla glanced at the menu. Callum was right. This was more expensive than any place she'd ever been. "Moonberry juice?" Rayla questioned as she noticed it on the menu. "Yes. King Ezran requested we put it on the menu."

She looked down at the price. "Son of a-" She choked on the free water they had offered them. "$19.99?!" "Moonberries are hard to find," Callum commented. "No, they're not! I bet you, if I went out there right now, I could find a bush." "But could you find a moonberry bush?" Soren asked. "I think that's what she meant," Callum whispered to him.

Ezran chuckled. The waiter stared impatiently. "Oh, right! Food!" Ez realized. "Could I get the... uhh... crud. Callum, could you help me with that?" He pointed to a word. Callum squinted at it. "What the..." Neither of them recognized it. Rayla peered at it. "What in the- Did you guys seriously make up a word to put on the menu?" she accused. "Of course not, Ma'am. It is a new recipe, though the word is real. It is called, 'Guacamole.' This is the Guacamole and chips."

"Oh! What's in it?" Callum inquired. "Avocado, onion, tomato, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, garlic, and salt."
"Jalapeño? Nevermind," Ezran decided. Soren ordered it instead. Rayla didn't get anything. She wasn't hungry. Strangely enough, neither was Callum. Dead people don't get hungry, I guess. Ezran ordered funny, mouse-shaped pancakes. He may have been a king, but he was still like, nine.

When the food came, Soren stared at the Guacamole on top of the yellow corn chips beneath. He lifted one up to try it. His face lit up as he bit into it. "That's good!" he chuckled. He wolfed down the rest. Rayla and Callum just talked. Something about Askerius. It didn't feel right to actually, y'know, talk, talk there. It just felt like you could have conversations about the little things. Never anything important. Never anything... personal. I guess they just have to get used to it... right?

A/N: I'm soooo sorry! This took way too long! I really did try to get this out a lot earlier, but I have been so, so busy! Like I went out for breakfast, then I had a choir concert, it was a lot. But now it's out. So... great!