Back? # **Chapter Twenty-Two: Run Run Rudolph (We’ve Gotta Make It To Town!)** *The skies above Mistvale, 8:00 PM* --- Song(s): **Carol of the Bells – Lindsey Stirling** --- “Are we there yet?” Nuro asked with a smirk. He already knew the answer: Mistvale had come into sight below, and Nicholas’ steeds began their descent. “Thental, if you ask that one more time, I will push you out.” Pyx snapped, keeping her gaze on the horizon and mentally chanting ‘Don’t look down, don’t look down…” “We’ll be there momentarily. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t murder each other in my sleigh,” Nicholas called back, smiling. His grin instantly dropped as he spied what lay ahead of him. “BRACE YOURSELVES!” He cried, barely audible over the howling winds and blinding snow. “WE’VE GOT COMPANY!” Something hard slammed against the side of the sleigh, rocking it back and forth. Seconds later, it rammed again and again in an unyielding assault. The travellers were surrounded by an army of Eira’s spectral riders, hellbent on knocking the sleigh out of the sky. Nicholas’ steeds tried to outrun their peers, but the enemy steeds were every bit as swift and strong. A shrill violin tone rang across the night, weaving into a melody as the Lord himself appeared amidst his demons, gleefully spurring them along. “Well, hello, Nicholas! How lovely of you to come to greet me!” “Get out of my way, you foul demon! I don’t have time for this!” “What’s wrong, Paladin? Losing your touch? Need I remind you, you had no trouble outrunning me before!” He mocked, sneering. “I said get back!” “No. You chose this! You invaded my domain, tried to stand against my plans, and turned me into a laughingstock! If anyone has a right to complain, it’s me! You ruined me, Nicholas! And for that…” He boasted as the music reached a frenzied crescendo. “This song shall be your requiem.” With a chilling laugh, Eira vanished, leaving his demons to finish the deed. “Travellers! I hate to do this, but you’ll have to go from here!” “What?!” Pyx screamed. “Don’t worry -- you’ll be fine! My steeds will carry you! I only need two to keep the sleigh…somewhat airborne, enough to find a safer landing location. It won’t be an easy landing, but I’ll manage.” “Nicholas, what about you?!” Clara exclaimed. “And our luggage!” Nuro added. “Don’t worry about me! Everything will work out fine -- just go! Now!” Nicholas made a sharp left turn, knocking the travellers out of the sleigh. Six of Nicholas’ eight steeds swept them up in their windy bodies, dropping them safely in the heart of Needlepoint Woods. The remaining two carried Nicholas forward but weren’t quite fast enough to outpace Eira’s forces. As the travellers covered the rest of the way to the Magispace on foot, they could merely watch as Nicholas and the sleigh careened violently to the ground, disappearing below the treeline.