More from the vignettes

 All she remembered was that there was a loud bang, and everyone in the tavern started running out. She had only gone a few steps when she felt a hand on her elbow, and heard a male voice,” Come with me. I can take you where no one can find you.”

Caught up in the confusion and panic, she was happy to accept the guidance of someone who seemed to know what they were doing.

They ran around several corners before the noise began to recede. They stopped to look behind them.

“Over here,” he said, and guided her to an alcove hidden behind where a wall protruded out to form a fireplace for whatever building they were huddled against.

He assumed a protective position in front of her, shielding her from the street. She could see now that it was the brown-haired man she had noticed earlier in the tavern. She had noticed him, but had been so busy trying to avoid the dark-haired, scar-faced man who kept deliberately bumping into her and trying to force her to sit with him that she had not had a chance to do more than glance at him.

She moved her head to try and get a glimpse of what was happening on the street, but he stopped her.

“Careful,” he said softly, and his voice was firm but kind, “They will still be out there. We must remain hidden.”

She sighed, but decided to not press the issue right at that moment. He was still a little out of breath, so she rested her head against his shoulder. He was still breathing heavily too, and his body was warm from running. Suddenly shy about their closeness, she tried to ease away from him, but his arms around her were firm, and she couldn't move. This close, his masculinity was almost overwhelming to her.

Suddenly she heard voices, and realized that he was right: the chase was still on. The voices were shouting instructions, and soon she could hear the sound of their feet on the packed earth.

“Check over there, they're running out of places to hide,” shouted one of them, and she heard him pass right by their hiding place.

The man pressed closer to her, concealing their bodies in the darkness of the alcove. She could hear his breath in his chest and feel his chin resting against her head. Trying to relieve some tension, she took a deep breath and released it. His grip on her relaxed but remained firm.

“How long do you think they will look?” She asked him softly.

She felt his breath go in and out. “I don't know, but I think it is too soon to move. They are still too close. We must remain still.”

She nodded, accepting his guidance.