Surviving As A Cannon Fodder

Chapter 105

The twins flinched when they saw Ann smile at them, only to pale the next minute when she placed a bowl of soup on their hands instead of the sticks.

"Let me remind you that the two of you haven't had your share yet. So don't criticize before tasting anything"

Ann ruffled their hair before turning back to Kalan.

"Don't waste food kids"

Kalan held out his empty bowl towards Ann as if he was a child, proud of finishing his meal without any qualms.

"Are you sure you want another one?" Ann asked, biting the corner of her lips.

She felt genuinely surprised. Since even she did not expect anybody to ask for a second serving to her cooking.

Particularly when the reactions she would receive were,

"Gaah!"

Jade roared like a fire breathing dragon in agony.

Yes.

This was the reaction Ann would get and the one she expected.

Because aside from Raeden and herself, nobody, even her own family members held the heart to survive her cooking.

Having developed a taste for spicy food from her previous life, the sweet and bland foods of the current world did not satisfy her appetite. So what was normal for her, turned into an absolute nightmare for others.

'I didn't expect anybody to get hurt though'

Ann gave Kalan his second serving and watched as she sat back at her seat. She noticed Jade blaze in her direction and averted her eyes.

"Got something to say?" She asked, feeling a bit guilty.

"Throwing spices at everything won't fix the food, you maniac!"

"I know that.."

Ann mumbled under her breath, feeling down.

"If you can't cook, then DON'T DO IT"

"I know how to cook. You don't know to appreciate the diverse tastes of life"

When they noticed Jade start complaining, the distraught twins sprung back to life and added more to their banter.

"Aggh.... My tongue died" 

Noah complained and Oliver laid down on the floor as if he was about to die.

"Save me. I can see the sun set over the horizon"

"It's pitch black you idiot" Ann clicked her tongue.

"Don't let go brother... the sun will shine on us again"

"Now you're just exaggerating"

Eugene and Raeden watched as the gang started arguing like a bunch of toddlers as they had their dinner without interrupting. They knew from experience that it was safer to let the gang calm down on their own without any interference.

The next day, quarter past eleven the entourage reached the gates in Lorem. Or to be more specific, they were waiting in a long queue to get to the gates.

"We're a bit behind schedule" Ann said looking at the carriages waiting in line to enter the gates.

"And why do you think we were late?" Eugene asked sarcastically, sitting on the back of the carriage the relic was transported in.

"I didn't force him into anything. How was I supposed to know he was prone to gastritis" Ann pouted thinking about the events of last night.

The scheduled departure time of the entourage was delayed because one of the members of the Tullus mercenaries, Will, came down with a severe case of gastritis, due to ambiguous reasons.

Since there were no doctors available in the vicinity, a small group of members left the camp in the middle of the night to take him to the nearest temple or medical facility for treatment.

"And I apologized...." 

Rows of carriages and carts with merchants and travelers alike were waiting for their papers to get verified by the guard tower. Only after the papers are verified with a stamp of approval the people were allowed inside Orion. At least that was the legal procedure.

'I came through the forest when I first arrived in Velven. Which was both illegal and untraceable. Now that I think about it, illegal border crossing is a capital crime in Orion. But they're not gonna catch me, when are busy fighting among themselves for the heroine'

"Looks like it will take hours before all these people before us get their stamp approval.." Ann changed the subject, but she didn't miss Eugene's smirk as he saw through her words.

"We're gonna be stuck here for hours before we get our chance. Are you being cranky because of this Eugene baby?"

"No, I'm not cranky. And stop calling me a 'baby'!"

"My son is in his rebellious stage"

"I'm not your son!"

"The baby rabbit is about to leave its nest. Don't worry baby, Mommy can understand"

"I said stop it!"

"Hmm..."

As Ann and Eugene started their daily squabble to pass time, Kalan glanced at the line of carriage in front of them and gestured to Ezra to come forward. He whispered something to him and sent him ahead towards the gate.

Minutes later the carriages up front started to pave way for them to move forward. Soon after a group of guards emerged and directed the entourage towards the gates.

"What the..what's going on?" Ann asked Kalan, confused by the sudden movement.

'Why are they moving away like Moses splitting the ocean?' 

Ann recalled the night of the attack on Mount Zion when the assassins behaved the same way.

"I called in a favor" Kalan answered.

The people who were standing on the side of the roads stared at them as they passed through making Ann feel guilty.

It was obvious since any normal person would be pissed if someone cuts through a queue they have been waiting for hours.

"I feel bad for overtaking them. They were here before us.."

"Then do you want to wait for hours under the sun?" asked Eugene sitting inside the cozy carriage while the others rode on top of horses under the sun.

"Forget I ever said that"

'What did Kalan do to make them give special treatment?' Ann speculated as they marched towards the gate.

Then it finally dawned on her.

'No way....'  Ann stared at Kalan wide eyed.

"You..."