Braden let the cart crash into the building as the archer cut left. He was a dozen paces behind her now, and gaining ever so slightly the longer she went thanks to his being Nimble. She could turn and set up for one shot before he would crash into her, sword leading. Or she could continue to run away until he caught her. Braden was completely confident in his victory.

Until he noticed the guards ahead of them. She'd run not only away from Braden, but toward a pair of very unhappy-looking guards. Braden pulled up short and started running the other way, letting the elf go and trying to find cover. "Going to let others fight your battles, are you?" he messaged Daeris. Truthfully, though, he didn't fault her for it. He had stolen a cart to gain an upper hand, and now she was using that to his disadvantage.

He had no cover, not for many long steps. The best he had was an all-out sprint to reach the fountain; he couldn't even use people anymore since the crowd was avoiding the pair and their duel. But he wouldn't reach it in time. His path was at a small angle from where Daeris had been standing, so she might get the lead wrong or even drop the arrow short. Now was the time to find out just how good a shot she was. Three arrows was all she needed to win this duel, two if one of them was critical.