21 Preparing for a Picnic (2/2)
”Why broth-er?” Chen grinned.
”Stop.”
”You should be soup-er excited.”
”Enough.”
”Maybe you should have 'pot' luck?”
”Just die.”
”Then you'd be ab-'alone'.”
”That was a real stretch.” Nikolai tossed some scraps at the offensive soldier. He'd stopped his horrible puns after the attack, but secure in the protection of the Pendant his bad habits were returning.
”Yes, I need to be taller.”
”…”
”Fine, I'll stop. Where are you going and why are you massacring that carrot for it?” Chen stepped back to avoid the loose chunks of vegetable flying around the kitchen.
”It's soup for our picnic. I'm going to take her to the ruined temple on fifth hill.” Nikolai had planned out a meal and arranged supplies for them to spend the day, making sure that two docile horses from the stables were ready for them. Elya may have preferred her Charger, but it seemed ridiculous to take a warhorse for a picnic.
”The original settlers were dumb. What in the Fates names is 'fifth hill'?”
”I thought the same, but it makes sense when you think about it. Giving the hills numbers means it's difficult to get lost.”
”Whatever just be careful.”
Nikolai was toasting some bread but almost singed his fingers at the serious tone.
”Do you know something?”
”Accidents 'hill' happen.”
”…”
Tossing the burnt slices to the dogs that lounged outside, he ignored Chen and tried to regain the enthusiasm with which he'd started. Unfortunately, Chen's puns could destroy the wills of the Fates themselves and he was in fine form today.