Mormon reintroduces Limhi, whom we first met at the beginning of historical flashback (Mosiah 7). Limhi’s presence in the fleeing party strengthens the idea that those who fled were Noah’s family and retainers. Limhi certainly would have gone with his clan, even though his moral character is certainly an improvement over his father’s, a fact Mormon also notes (v. 17).
The presence of both the king and the future king in the same group provides yet another reason, both for the Lamanite decision to pursue this group and the relatively peaceful conclusion of the conflict. Noah was not captured but Limhi was. Noah’s absence created a power vacuum that Limhi filled. This was a change that may have been in the Lamanites’ favor, as Limhi had never been an independent king. From the beginning of his reign, he would have made accommodations to the new overlords.