The next day, they woke up, had breakfast, and set off to Hormis. They left the chaotic city and moved southeast towards the old battlefield. They were alert and kept care of their surroundings.
As Deris ate his breakfast, a messenger came towards him and told him about the Cerfisians leaving the city and moving southeast. And also handed him a letter from Falvarians. Deris opened the letter and read it all. His second-hand man came close and asked.
"The Falvarians have found out what our targets are looking for. They want us to attempt a capture. If successful, then its win. But if the opposite happens, we will follow them to the end." Deris said and got up. "Send 8 men after them. Three gunmen and the rest swordsmen."
"Three gunmen? It is expensive weaponry. We shouldn't waste it."
"That's why I am sending three."
The second-hand man nodded and signalled 8 of his men to move out and attack their targets.
The 8 Morl riders got on their animals and rushed out towards them.
The squad rushed through the Efrisian plains and moved under the rising sun. They were trying to be as fast as possible. Because once in Hormis, they would have a political advantage over their pursuers.
As the five horses rushed, a bullet from Felmer's right side barely missed him. He looked back and saw 8 Morls, teeth bared and growling. The 8 Morls covered the distance in a short time. The gunman opened the rifle's side, loaded the next bullet, cocked the gun, aimed at Felmer, and fired. The bullet again missed.
"We are getting attacked!" Felmer shouted. "And what the hell is that weapon?"
'Rifles? Pretty rich they are!' The captain thought.
"Those are advanced weaponry, rifles. The bullet is as fast as a magic imbued arrow." The captain replied.
The other gunman fired at them and barely missed their targets. Elna took out her bow and tried to hit them, but a gunman targeted her and hit her arrow, breaking it.
"Commander, don't! It is too risky!" Captain Irnik shouted. "We have to lose them somehow."
"How!?" Elna asked.
"Our best shot is either a forest or the Hormisian border. The border is near. We have to endure till then."
"Wasn't it at a half-day distance?" Felxin asked.
"The battlefield is, but the border isn't. And at our current pace, we can reach faster."
The horses swiftly ran on the vast plains. The Morls were hot on their heels. A swordman got near Melfer and attacked. Melfer defended and then imbued his sword with magic. Golden lines appeared on the blade, and after gathering enough magic, he moved his sword like a whip. A golden string emerged and hit the swordman's head. He lost his balance and fell down the Morl. Then, with the same string, Melfer halved the Morl. Before he could counterattack, a bullet came from behind and hit his sword.
The Morl Riders weren't giving an opening to the squad. As they got near the border, a bullet hit Flexin's left arm. He screamed in pain and tightly grabbed his arm. He was about to fall from his horse when Felmer got near him. He yanked up Flexin from the collar and put him in front of him on his horse. A gunman fired and killed Flexin's horse.
"We have to do something!" Felmer shouted.
"The border is near! Have patience!" The captain shouted back.
Soon, the border appeared on the horizon. They whipped the reins, and the horses picked up more pace. As they got closer, a red flare appeared behind them in the sky. The Morl riders immediately turned back and went south. The squad rushed towards the border, and after a while, they were in Hormis. A squad of Hormisian military looked at them. And let them pass.
For now, the squad was safe.