Being Outran By A Girl

But she did have her instincts.

They veered sharply into a winding street filled with market stalls. The scent of spices and dried fish hit them instantly. Nnenna did not stop.

She grabbed a colorful shawl hanging from a rack, threw Lionaran currency to the seller, and threw the shawl over her shoulders and head without breaking stride. She snatched another and tossed it to Ekene.

"Wear it. Fast," she said.

"What?"

"Now!"

He fumbled but followed her lead, wrapping the fabric like a traveling shawl around his shoulders and lower face.

They ducked into a fruit stall where a plump old woman with sharp eyes was arranging oranges.

"Please," Nnenna whispered. "Just for a moment."

The woman raised a brow, glanced at the guards storming toward the market, and without a word, pointed to a large overturned basket. Nnenna and Ekene crouched and hid behind it.

The guards burst into the market seconds later, scanning the crowd.