A large party of huddled figures fled into the night. Outside observers would be unclear whether they huddled together due to the cold, or if they were fearful of pursuit. Their leader knew that their actions were because of both reasons.
Off to the side, Baron Wei Jin sat quietly on his horse while he watched his people pass by him. He wore a complicated expression on his face while he checked on their progress.
He was touched that so many of his people chose to follow him into almost certain doom. Jin had tried to relieve them of their oaths of loyalty. Instead, over a hundred had reaffirmed their oaths and insisted they would stay with him.
He didn't begrudge the ones who chose to take his offer. Many of them had young children and they didn't want to risk their children's lives. He choked back his emotions as he recalled how distraught some had been over their decision.
'Those who left were the smart ones,' Jin thought as he wondered how many of those in his party would come to regret their decision in the coming days.
Sleds, loaded with supplies, glided through the snow on metal runners behind the main party. Satisfied that everyone was holding up so far, he spurred his horse towards his Captain of the Guard.
He expertly guided his horse alongside Jia Xinyi's horse and asked her for an update.
"Captain, any word from your scouts?"
"As far as they can tell, there's no one on our trail just yet. Our way forward looks clear as well."
She shrugged her shoulders before indicating the large trail their party was leaving in the snow.
"We may have given them the slip for now, but they'll find us soon enough."
"It's a shame we aren't facing incompetent opponents. I know you and your men will do their best," Jin replied.
Unvoiced by either was the fact that their best wasn't going to cut it. Not when it came to the wrath of the Count who pursued them. It didn't need to be said, and it wouldn't help their situation by bringing it up.
He left the captain's side and joined his young wife. They clasped hands, a small blush graced her face. She warily glanced back the way they had come.
"Are the count's soldiers after us yet?" She asked.
"Not that our scouts can tell."
"But, they can follow our trail. Can't we do something about it?"
"Don't worry, my beloved wife, the rearguard will take care of it. They'll use wind spells to hide the tracks."
She blushed when she heard his address, the novelty of her new status still flustered her a little.
'Good the distraction worked,' he thought to himself when she didn't press any further. She was feeling stressed enough as it was. She felt guilty about the pursuit, even though she never encouraged the Count. His actions were his alone.
The rearguard was using spells of some sort to blot out their tracks. But the young lord knew that magic would leave its own traces that were just as easily followed.
Nevertheless, they couldn't assume that their pursuers would see through every trick. Otherwise, they might as well surrender and save everyone the effort. Every trick was used as they fled towards the mountains.
_________
"That's where they are? There's no one else around?" Wei Jin asked as he indicated a small tree covered hill.
"Yes, they're not hiding their presence at all. My scouts confirmed that no one else is around," Captain Jia responded.
"Ok, we follow the plan. Let's go see what they have to say."
The majority of the band of travelers halted. A dozen soldiers escorted the two leaders as they moved towards the hill, and other soldiers spread out around the larger stationary party.
Eight horsemen rode down the hill to meet them. Tension permeated the air as the two groups faced each other down.
"Baron Wei Jin, how fortunate it is that I found you. My lord wishes to speak with you," sneered a man with a large scar down his face.
"The dog himself comes to speak with us, we truly are blessed. I'm afraid I'll have to decline your master's invitation," answered a calm Jin.
"Perhaps I was not clear, Count Yonge was quite insistent. His orders are for you to stop immediately and await his presence," responded the scarred man imperiously.
"Ha! Your lord is not my liege lord, he can't order me to do anything."
"The Duke will soon . . ." The scarred man began to speak before he was interrupted.
"You know the mind of the Duke now? Impressive for such a lowly coward of a dog. Now get the f*ck out of our way, and tell your precious Count to go service a goblin," snarled Jin.
The scarred man simply narrowed his eyes before leading his men away. Jin wasn't fooled, they weren't giving up. They'd be back when they had gathered enough men to confront his own soldiers. The only thing Jin's party could do was press on.
He suspected that Count Yonge was simply trying to bait him into attacking his men, thereby legitimizing his pursuit. So far, no actual fighting had occurred. Jin didn't know if the Duke would make a decree or if it was simply a bluff.
Jin's own Count was a weak man and would have looked away as Count Yonge led his vassals against Baron Wei Jin's castle. No one else would have batted an eye; such internal conflicts were all too common.
_________
They entered the Merchant's Sorrow Pass, the quickest way out of the empire for Jin and his party. The Empire stretched for thousands of miles in every direction, except into the deadly mountain range itself.
Merchant's Sorrow Pass used to be called something else many years ago, but the old name was forgotten and the new one was used in its place. It was a fitting name, since only a few of the caravans that braved the pass survived intact. And others had simply vanished.
Jin's party was forced to risk the pass and its numerous dangers; doubtlessly increased by the winter weather. Facing certain death if they faced the Count, they were left with little choice but to chance the pass.
Arrayed in a blocking position before them were almost sixty of the Count's soldiers. The Count's men were fewer in number, but half of Jin's force were noncombatants. Outside of the Empire at last, Jin didn't wait for the enemy to strike first.
Baron Wei Jin and Captain Xinyi led their forces against the Count. Spells and missiles crashed against the magical barriers that protected the charging melee soldiers. The distance between the two forces rapidly closed.
Wei Jin's rapier diverted the incoming axe strike to the side, before he lunged forward and buried his rapier deep inside his opponent's chest. He turned towards a desperate fight next to him; two of the enemy were ganging up on one of his men.
He forced one of those enemies to turn and face him, relieving the pressure against his soldier. Jin accepted a glancing blow in order to land a clean stab into his opponent's neck. He ignored the burbling of his dying opponent as he moved towards his next target.
He was an Advanced class, one of only a few in this battle. Few could stand before him for long. Jin threw himself at the next enemy he could find, healing spells and buffs further increased his combat power.
Three enemy soldiers tried teaming up against him, it was their greatest and last mistake of their lives. A slightly bloodied Jin quickly moved on to his next opponent, only to realize the battle was over.
A confused Jin walked up to his captain, "Did they run? That was over too quickly."
"No my lord, they didn't run. They did something worse, they went after the noncombatants," she replied bitterly.
"Damn . . . I didn't realize. What are our casualties?"
"There's no reason that you should have. They sent enough against us both to keep us tied up while the majority attacked the noncombatants. We have seven dead, six of them noncombatants. We also lost a third of our sleds."
"My beloved?" He only felt slightly guilty for thinking about himself before his people.
"Safe"
Jin closed his eyes as he said a quick prayer to the gods for his dead. He felt some regret that they had kept their noncombatants so close to his soldiers, but they had been more concerned about a monster showing up. Going after noncombatants like that wasn't something they had expected.
As his people reorganized themselves, he wondered if this attack was the Count's last desperate and vindictive attack, or if it was meant to delay them further.