Chapter 143: A Night To Remember
That night, the kitchen glowed softly under the flickering light of the fire, shadows dancing along the wooden walls as Lara set to work. It had been far too long since she’d had a proper meal, and tonight, she was determined to change that.
Lara decided to cook. The pheasants that Sandoz had meticulously taken care of had dwindled in number, but Lara was still lucky that at least a dozen were left.
Since there were many men, she decided to prepare a dish with soup, her favorite: chicken binakol. The savory aroma of garlic, onion, and ginger sizzling in the pot filled the room, each ingredient releasing its essence into the bubbling coconut water. She added pieces of wild chicken and the white flesh meat of the coconut, along with slices of green papaya and tender moringa leaves. The sweet scent of lemongrass curled through the air, wrapping itself around the senses like a comforting blanket.
Agilus, Redon, Aramis, and a few of the soldiers were crowding at the door trying to sniff the wonderful aroma.
When the dish was finally served, the warmth of the broth felt almost like a balm against the weariness clinging to their bones.
"Wow, I had no idea this wild chicken could be so incredibly delicious!" Agilus exclaimed, a delightful grin spreading across his face as he slurped the steaming, savory soup. Each rich, flavorful spoonful danced on his palate, awakening his senses with the warmth and depth of the broth.
"And I didn’t know that you can cook quite well, Kane," he added, casting a sideways glance at Lara.
"Hey, take it easy." Felix rolled his eyes, watching Agilus devour the meal like a starved man. "If I didn’t know you so well, I might think you’ve been deprived of food for days."
"But I did starve for a few days. That is a fact. We were eating our dry rations. When we occasionally secured a hot meal, the taste was so unpalatable that it barely resembled food." Agilus’s voice filled the small dining area.