by Cody W Urban
“Aye, Nicholas! Fare ye well!” she replied and dashed off to her left as Nicholas banked right. He could now see to the west, as he drove south toward a rope bridge over the Xanthos, nearly twenty Krampus pursued him at full sprint. Nicholas rode over the bridge, Sleipnir’s agile feet targeting the planks and dodging the gaps the whole way. A cool breeze blew over Nicholas’s sweating brow now as he rode into the open air over the ravine.
Once Sleipnir made it to the other side, Nicholas hopped off, dropped his burdensome sacks of coal, drew his sword and waited. He could see his breath fog in the moonlight as he paused, peering across the ravine toward the shadows. But his lingering wasn’t long. At once a great mass of Krampus, both those pursuing him and those that hunted Verean, gathered at the end of the rope bridge and though many started to cross, others hesitated. Nicholas held up the bag of coal as high as he could and waved it about.
“You squalid monsters want this?” he shouted. “Come hither and seize it!” At that moment even the wavering Krampus took to a full run, trampling each other as all the Krampus crammed the rope bridge to reach Nicholas. He waited only until they were merely feet away when in a single powerful, circular stroke he slashed all four ropes that suspended the bridge. When they broke, the entire host of Krampus plummeted down into the ravine to collide with rocks and splash into the fast current of the Xanthos River.
Nicholas wanted to collapse from exhaustion and from the heavy sigh of relief at the ended state of flight or fight. But this reprieve was short lived. When he heard Sleipnir nicker, he was reminded that he still had to visit Apollonia, Trysa, and Myra and the night was no longer young. Time was running very short.
6
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on Earth, goodwill to men.
At the time when Nicholas had finished his visit to Apollonia and Trysa, and was headed toward Myra, all the other Elves were coming upon their last stop as well. Unfortunately for them, they hadn’t found as ingenious a way to dispose of their pursuing Krampus force as Nicholas had. Hugin, Munin, Tomte, and Nisse all put their archery skills to use and rode upon their reindeer backward and lobbed arrows at the beasts chasing them, a skill Nicholas in all his prowess had not yet learned.
Ty’Avel on the other hand was a master swordsman and put his intricate crystal sword to use on the rooftops of Phaselis, a harbor town to the far east of Lycia. Having felt he had made good time as he approached this hiding city, he found his path blocked by a gathering of Krampus. He rode his reindeer up a ramp and took to riding upon the rooftops. There he engaged them, wielding his mighty blade, casting his enemies over the eves to fall to their demise below.
Meanwhile, Azanu resorted to a less physically engaging means to thwart the Krampus. He hung the sack of coal over a pit he’d dug and covered with leaves and sticks. Nicholas, in his altruism, had elected to take a route with the most number of stops, which offered a bit more traveling time to the others. Azanu found himself on a course to the north, far from the river, with very few destinations. After gaining a great deal of distance from the Krampus, he heard the distant bells chime and knew his partners were having a great deal of success in their rides. It was hearing the inspiring chime of the distant bells when an idea struck him.
Elves have a particularly proficient way of doing almost everything, and where it would have taken a person all day to dig a pit so deep, Azanu was able to do it within an hour. He covered it with sticks, leaves, and snow. Then he climbed into a tree with branches over the pit, hung the sack of coal, and waited. When the Krampus finally caught up with him, they were heaving and out of breath, but were not too tired to attempt reaching the bag. Like a horde of hungry wild boars they put no thought in the situation at all and altogether they jumped at the dangling sack. Then Azanu lifted the rope, pulling the bag out of their reach, and the Krampus fell through the faux ground and into the pit. After his accomplishment, he was back on his reindeer and rode hard off toward the next appointment.
As Nicholas nearly finished one of the first houses he visited in Myra, he climbed out onto a balcony from a higher home to drop down to Sleipnir. At that moment, in the distance tolled a symphony of echoing bells chanting the sublime proclamation that the Scarlet Riders were achieving their goals. His heart filled with euphoria and confidence as he scaled down the wall toward Sleipnir, thinking how remarkably smooth everything was going.
One should never think that before thoroughly accomplishing an undertaking. As he climbed down he heard Sleipnir make a frightful noise. He looked down and saw three Krampus whipping their chains at him. Nicholas jumped down, hurting his shins and his feet, but ignored the pain to protect his reindeer. Sleipnir found himself backed into a narrow nook between the buildings with no way out. As the beasts swung their weapons, a barbed chain struck Sleipnir’s antler and caught it. Then as the Krampus pulled the reindeer toward him, Sleipnir squirmed and cried out in panic. He pulled against them so hard that pieces of his antlers broke off and he reared back into the walls, dreadfully afraid. Just when the chain was about to slash him again, Nicholas ran his blade through the monster and engaged the other two.
Unfortunately for him, in his tired condition and with his feet and shins bruised from the fall he took, he wasn’t in his top-notch performance mode and also took quite a beating from the two Krampus. When he blocked one, the other jabbed him. Then he would slash away the other when his face would be punched by the first. After he fell struck down, he was able to strike his blade through the ankle of one Krampus before the other kicked him in the face, knocking him several feet away.
Then as the last Krampus towered over him with a grim sneer, a small voice like the coo of a bird was heard over them. From the ground both Nicholas and the Krampus could see a young little girl had looked out her balcony to see what the commotion and clattering was. “Go away, little one! Go back inside!”
“Scarlet Rider!” she exclaimed in naïve excitement.
Then the Krampus gave Nicholas a look; for the first time a hint of sentience was shown in one of these beasts, and if the bony grotesque face could smile, that was the expression it made. With an incredible leap, the Krampus jumped up two stories, halfway toward the high balcony, and continued to climb up toward the girl. “No! Go inside!” Nicholas shouted.
Bruised and stiff, Nicholas pushed his muscles to move as he scrambled to his feet, notched an arrow in his bowstring, and shot the beast in the back. It growled and slid downward half a story, but clutched the clay wall and continued to ram its claws through the wall to climb further. This region of Myra was built into hillsides making for multiple layered terraces, and it was the highest level where the little girl screamed and withdrew back inside. In her terror she didn’t shut her window as she moved back to hide. Nicholas shot another arrow, and another; each one only slowed the beast down slightly as it relentlessly pushed through.
The loud ruckus drew many spectators from their slumber to come outside and see the Scarlet Rider shooting arrows at a massive dark creature. Then the Krampus, despite the arrows, jumped through the window and the girl screamed again. Nicholas dropped his bow and charged up a tree, ran along its bough, and leapt onto another balcony. He then scaled as quickly as possible, pushing through his bruised and beaten state. Then he heard a man shout, a scuffle, and then the man flew from the window to fall several flights down. But Nicholas caught his sleeve and swung the man into the tree, breaking his fall. He figured that was the girl’s father, risking his life to save his daughter, and he was tossed aside like a rag. Upon hearing another scream Nicholas climbed the pipe with all his effort and ascended into the window—nothing would stop him from protecting the endangered, defenseless child.
Nicholas ran into the dark room and saw, as best he could in the gray shadows, the Krampus tearing through pillows and sheets to reach the girl. Nicholas ran and slammed the beast into a wall and then stood to protect the girl. The Krampus charged back at Nicholas but he ducked to let th
e creature sail right over him. Nicholas dashed at the Krampus, ran his blade through the beast’s stomach, and the two of them fell through the window four stories down in which the Krampus took the brunt of the fall. Though Nicholas survived the drop by landing upon his foe, he rolled over unconscious from the impact.
He wasn’t sure how long he was out, but the sound of a large bell roused him back to clarity. As he stood up, he rubbed his aching head to find his hood had fallen from his face, and then he discovered a crowd of Myran citizens watching him. Deborah stepped forward and handed him his sword and said, “Do not worry, we took care of putting out the rest of your toys and the coal is in the bag.”
“Thank you,” Nicholas said as he took the sword and sheathed it, not sure of what to think of all the eyes stuck on him, uneasy about his unmasking.
“So, Bishop Nicholas is also the Scarlet Rider,” said a man’s voice. It was the father of the little girl he had saved. He stepped forward in the crowd to reveal himself. Nicholas locked eyes with him. He knew many people greatly adored the Rider and appreciated his gifts, but many didn’t like the religion of the Bishop, and while the faith was outlawed, he was worried this people might just hand him into the authorities. “But none of us here will remember that should anyone inquire of us,” he added. “Am I right, Myra?”
The gathering of people nodded in agreement and gave Nicholas an approving smile for his deeds and he looked back with a speechless grin. The moment moved him to his core with profound emotion. It took him a second to overcome the surmounting accolade to bring words past his lips. “Thank you, all,” he managed to say.
“Thank you, Nicholas!” shouted an appreciative resident.
Nicholas pulled his hood over his head and then hopped onto Sleipnir and rode to face the crowd. “Peace to you all! And to all a good night!” Then Nicholas rode off, finished with his last city, to head toward the rendezvous and to the fulfillment of his quest.
7
Then ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolves from night to day.
The stars began to dim as the black sky turned a dark hue of blue—dawn was not far off. Nicholas rode Sleipnir down a hill through the snow and down into the once green valley toward a small light; the torch held by Matthias and Bedros waiting by the sleigh. All around him rung a remote thrilling opus of ringing bells like a metallic choir chiming an oeuvre of conquest. Few words could describe the bliss and pride Nicholas felt as he galloped on the back of his faithful friend, listening to the uplifting sublime melody of the distant bells of each city and town of Lycia. It was a thrill to know by hearing them that the Lycian children of all ages were tuning their hearts to the concerto to know that though peace was elusive, though hate was broad and potent, that as long as a few individuals stood against it in the name of peace, there was hope. Though the quest wasn’t entirely over, he felt he truly accomplished something magnificent that evening.
As he came to Matthias and Bedros he found them already waiting with all the Elves, excluding Nisse. “Nicholas! Joy to see ye well!” Tomte declared as he walked over and took the bags of coal from him. “Verean told me of the burden you took from her. This is intolerably heavy!”
Nicholas slid off Sleipnir and patted his neck. “Azanu, would you please lead Sleipnir to the brook to drink?” he asked, noticing Hugin and Munin already down by the straight to give their animals rest. Azanu took Sleipnir down and Nicholas fell back in the snow exhausted. “What a night this has been!” he sighed as Juno came up to him and licked his face.
“You’re hurt, my friend,” Tomte said, noticing the cuts on his cheeks and nose. “Here, take this,” he told him as he grabbed a pouch of herbs and fed them to Nicholas.
“We did it Tomte,” Nicholas said. “We really—is everyone accounted for?” he asked sensing an absence.
“All but Nisse,” Tomte replied. “We expected her back earlier than most of us. Her route was only just north of us among the homes in the mountains.”
“They have all had a drink!” Azanu announced as he led the reindeer toward the sleigh under a tree.
“Has anyone seen Nisse? On your routes at all, anyone cross her path?” Nicholas asked. The Elves paused in frozen alarm as Nicholas was the only one anxious about her nonattendance.
“I am sure she is fine. She’s rather resourceful,” Tomte assured him and rested his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder. “Maybe the trails among the mountains were difficult to trek and thus her progress was delayed. Surely, there couldn’t be enough Krampus in Vasilis’ employ to search to destroy each one of us!”
“I would not be so sure,” Nicholas replied. “Are they not prone to precipitous regions? Mayhaps they concentrated themselves in the mountains of Lycia. I dare not underestimate the armies at the Governor’s disposal.”
Nicholas looked over to the sleigh and saw Azanu, Hugin, and Boyce finish lashing the reindeer—Sleipnir was still drinking under Munin’s watch—and Verean and Ty’Avel loading the sleigh with the sacks of coal. “Keep the sleigh ready to depart, I will take Sleipnir up north and search for Nisse,” Nicholas announced.
“You can’t,” Tomte replied quickly and grabbed his arm.
“Why can I not seek to rescue my friend?” Nicholas asked. Tomte was only silent as he looked toward the East and saw the sky brighten a blue tinge soaking through the blackness as morning approached rapidly. “I cannot face Vasilis without all the coal! Though morning dawns nigh, I cannot run off without Nisse.”
“I am here!” she shouted, riding swiftly down the mountainside upon her nimble reindeer. It was a wonderful relief to Nicholas, but as the eastern sky lightened its color the more anxious knots grew in his stomach. It became evident that he was unconscious far longer than he figured. Nisse rode right up into the line of reindeer as Munin walked Sleipnir up to the front of the line. “Apologies for my belatedness,” Nisse said, huffing for breath.
Nicholas marched over and pulled her in for a tight hug. “No apologies needed. You did well tonight and I am overjoyed to see you are safe,” he said into her shoulder during their embrace. Then Nicholas marched over and sat into the sleigh just as Boyce finished lashing the last reindeer together. Upon Nicholas’s whistle Juno leapt into the seat beside him, and Nicholas gave a cunning smile and eager nod to his cohorts just before he whipped the reigns and shouted, “Now, my reindeer—on to victory!”
At that point all nine of the reindeer pulled with all of their might and began to drag the sleigh as fast as they could. Soon they ran at full speed, dragging the sleigh behind them speedily over the snow. They traveled straight south, over a snow-covered bridge above the Xanthos, along white plains and down the hill toward the southern coast of Lycia. Nicholas looked to his left and saw the sky’s hue transform to a rich orange along the horizon, and he rode hard, racing the sun, pleading with it not to rise. He called out motivational shouts to drive his animals faster. They had worked to the end of their energy through the night, and now Nicholas begged them not to meet exhaustion, but to press onward. Nicholas wished the yearning of Prophet Joshua to have the sun hold in the sky for the day’s battle to lead to victory, however his desire was that it would slow its pace and keep the night sky overhead just until the very end; the completion of his mission.
Chapter Fourteen
O Holy Night
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
Nicholas drove hard over the snow-laden lands down the hill, and the reindeer lugged him up the next knoll with great speed. They trekked, gliding on the snowy glade, to the stone bridge and up to Vasilis’ gates just as the tip of the glowing sphere of the sun poked above the eastern hilltops. The sleigh skid to a stop as Nicholas pulled back on the reigns and the reindeer finally took a much-needed break. Nicholas then looked upward and saw on a high balcony Vasilis perched in his coifed robe and cape sneering down at him. On another higher platform to his left stood a host of Roman s
oldiers, the magistrate from the Sol Indiges gala, and Orestes Pancras. All eyes were on him as he proudly stepped from his sleigh and stood tall to meet their gaze.
“Ah, why isn’t it the offspring of ignorance and stupidity—the incarnation of asininity. Forsooth I must congratulate ye, my apple-red antagonist,” Vasilis said in his austere smug way, feigning disinterest in Nicholas’s achievement. “Well done. Now you are at hand, a cart laden with coal, all the children given optimism and joyfulness in your gifts—yet for what?”
“Need ye ask, Son of Chaos?” Nicholas replied sternly. “For you to end your reign of terror, Vasilis! You agreed to relinquish your power.”
“Fie!” he gasped, frowning with his upturned nose down upon the Scarlet Rider. “I see no reason to acquiesce to the requests of one man!”
By this time Orestes had made his way down to the bridge and examined the sacks full of coal. Then he cleared his throat, fought his trepidation, and said with a shaky voice, “It all appears to be here.”
“What business is it of yours, Orestes Pancras, elected representative on the Lycian League?” Vasilis asked resentfully. “You are but a puppet of my will by the authority vested in me through the glorious empire of Rome!” Vasilis nodded a smile over to the magistrate to garner approval. The magistrate simply remained disdainful as he examined the situation.
“It is my duty as such an elected official, Vasilis,” Orestes said, summoning up his passion and outrage with his Governor, “to protect the people. The citizens, whom I am sworn under oath to serve, need one who will shepherd them, not subjugate them under unjust taxes and the invasion of demonic creatures.”
“You mean that farce of an impish sprite?” the magistrate asked. “You also believe that mutilated goat’s head was one of these—er—Krampus?”
“Aye, sir,” Orestes replied unwaveringly.