Viana and Joel slipped back into the port town's crowded market, moving through the flow of merchants and sailors. The cobblestone streets were alive with voices, the scent of salt, smoked fish, and tar filling the air.
Gulls screeched overhead, their wings cutting through the late afternoon sun.
Viana pulled her green hood lower, making sure she wouldn't be recognized by anyone in the market. The unknown woman's word—"Princess"—echoed in her mind. Her once-hidden identity was now exposed, a looming threat over them.
Joel walked beside her, his stride confident, but his brown eyes scanned every alley and shadow.
"We have until dusk to prepare," he said in a low voice. "Joining the caravan as guards gets us close to the overseer, but we need a way to watch him without tipping our hand."
