Manus Pluma Volantis

16: Del Bar

Soren nervously tapped his foot as he glanced around Del Bar. He looked down all the alleyways, all the spaces between the buildings. "What are you looking for?" Claudia asked him. Soren sighed before looking up at her and, voice quivering, said, "Mom." Claudia gasped. She thought about it. Soon her face lit up. This was Del Bar. When Lissa left, this was where she went. She beamed at Soren, "Sor-bear! Why do you look so sad? We could see Mom again!"

"Because, Clauds. What if she thinks we're like Da-" He inhaled sharply. "Viren. What if she thinks we're like Viren?" "We're not! And she'll be able to see that... right?" Soren nodded. "Maybe. Yeah. Mom's smarter than that." He was still reluctant to see her, though. No, not reluctant. Hesitant. That's the word. "Ah-hah! The bakery!" Ezran exclaimed. They went inside. Ezran's attention was immediately diverted by a box of jelly tarts.

"Hey! Can we get," He counted the amount of people in the group. "five boxes of jelly tarts?" "Coming right up," the baker said in a jubilant voice. Within minutes, they had their jelly tarts. Outside, they were all going to try them at the same time. "Three, two, one!" They all bit into one of their jelly tarts. Ezran sat for a moment, then said, "I prefer Barius' jelly tarts." "Yeah," Callum agreed. Everybody nodded in agreement.

"They're good, though," Ez commented, as if to apologize to the baker that didn't even hear him state his opinion. They stood and walked down the streets to see what else they could find. Soren still nervously scanned the streets. He secretly hoped he didn't see her. It would make everything easier. But, of course, he noticed a familiar woman standing near the market. Blonde hair, like his, tied in the back. Yes, this was Lissa.

He froze in his tracks. "Soren?" Claudia called, concerned. He turned to her, face pale as the clouds that drifted above. I'm sorry, he mouthed, then ran toward his mother. He ran as fast as he could toward the market. "Manus, pluma, volantis!" he heard behind him. A winged creature flew above him. "What the..." he muttered, then shook it off and continued running. "Soren!" Claudia yelled from behind him. Lissa heard this and turned. All the color left her face. "S- Soren?" She mumbled.

"Mom..." he said, tears filling his eyes. Lissa looked at him, suspicion twisting its way onto her face. It can't be. This is a dream. Soren?  "Mama..." he whispered, falling to his knees. "Where's-" she began to say, but was interrupted by the answer to her question. Claudia ran up to Soren. She saw Lissa, and froze. "Mom?" she tentatively asked. "Is that you?"

"Claudia..." Lissa whispered, hands coming up to cover her mouth. Her children were back. She had left so long ago. And here they were. "How is he? Viren?" Lissa asked. "We try not to speak of him. He's dead. Fortunately." "What do you mean? He's your father!" "Well, he doesn't deserve to be!" Soren shouted. Lissa took a moment to process this. "So, you say he's dead. How'd he die?" Soren glanced to Callum and Rayla, just now catching up.

Lissa frowned upon seeing the elf. "Rayla pushed him off the Storm Spire." "Who's Rayla?" "Right. Introductions. This is Rayla," he said, pushing himself upward and pointing to the elf. Lissa gasped. "I- I don't know what to say. Why?" "You might want to sit down for this," Soren advised.

On a bench, the crew- sorry, Dragang, told the whole story. Lissa gaped at them as they finished their tale. She pointed to Rayla, then Callum. No words escaped her mouth. Only a squeak.