" it is. Trust me. "

At the top of the rise, Ash pulled his mount to a halt. He was staring down the slope, eyes narrowed to slits. The edge of the rise fell away into a dizzying vertical drop, jagged rocks jutting up like spines. "They're coming," Ash muttered.

The wiremen fey flowed from the trees in a glittering swarm. Scuttling to the rise, they began to climb, digging their claws into the ice as they edged upward. Steel limbs flashing, they crawled up the icy slope like ants, barely slowing down.

"What are these things?" Ash whispered. He raised his arm, and the air around him sparkled as a glittering ice spear formed overhead. With a flick of his hand, he hurled it down the slope, into the ranks of oncoming fey.





"Okay, well what's so hard about it?"

" it isn't just a nickname. Its a dumb superficial title thats done more harm than good. "

,, I dont k ow. ,, She sighs. Shes practically half asleep.

"Then just pretend it hasn't."






The spear hit one directly in the face, punching through the wires and tearing it from the hill. It clattered down the slope, arms and legs flailing, but the other fey leaped over the body or skittered aside, and kept coming.

Ash whirled his steed around, his face grim.

"We can't outrun them," he announced, and there was the faintest hint of fear in his voice. "They're faster than us, and will overtake the horses long before we reach a trod. We have to make a stand."

" but it has. "

She mumbles something, but shes clearly pretty close to straight-up fainting.

Before Puck had a chance to respond, the sound of gremlins was suddenly overwhelming.



He swore and kicked his steed into motion, charging for the edge of the rise

Lise immediately stood up.

She passes out.