On January 3, Lorist bid farewell to Count Miranda and began traveling north.
The enormous caravan traveled along the main road, covering a hundred and twenty li a day.
On January 4, the caravan traveled forty li in the morning. In the afternoon, it left the main road, turned west onto a forest trail, crossed a small hill, and entered the territory of the first noble of the Kingdom of Redlis.
On the third day, just as the caravan was preparing to set out, Yuri sent someone to report that the lord of the territory, a noble Viscount, had personally brought more than twenty cavalrymen to collect a tax. The Viscount said that if the caravan did not leave one-tenth of its wagons as a toll payment to him, the lord of the land, he would lead his soldiers in attacking the caravan.
Lorist could not help laughing. He asked the scout who had come to report, "Did Knight Yuri explain to that Viscount that this is the army of the Norton Family from the Northlands, currently returning north to the family's territory?"
The scout reported, "Lord Yuri explained it to that lord several times, but the lord refused to listen. He insists that we're a caravan engaged in smuggling under the guise of a noble banner. He even mocked us, saying that if we wanted to use a noble banner, we should at least pick one with a famous name. The Norton Family? Who's ever heard of that damned thing?"
Lorist turned and shouted, "Telman, go invite this lord over. I'll show him exactly what the Norton Family is like."
Telman returned very quickly. The Viscount had already become a prisoner.
Telman said that when he led the Knight Order in a charge, the Viscount's cavalry either turned and