Before we glimpse elves or unravel ancient prophecies, before the Nor’easter storms or Arctic trials, The Rise of Nicholas the Noble introduces us to a boy and his brave dog. Few companions embody the heart of the tale more than Barry, a devoted Saint Bernard whose steady courage might very well protect the magic of Christmas itself.
But Barry wasn’t always a legend.
He began life as the runt of his litter, a trembling pup unable even to raise his head, abandoned in a snowy alley on a frosty December morning. That same morning, Nicholas discovered him, pressed against a cold brick wall while older boys hurled stones and sticks. Though Nicholas was still just a boy, he intervened. Outnumbered, he struggled, but it was Barry, despite his frailty, who leapt forward to shield him.
“He wasn’t bigger than a loaf of bread back then.”
By the time the scuffle ended, Nicholas was bruised and missing the oranges his mother had sent him to fetch. But in his arms he cradled a grimy, wide-eyed puppy whose paws were nearly as big as his head.
From that night onward, they were inseparable.
More Than a Pet—A Protector, a Friend, a Legend
Barry didn’t earn his place beside Nicholas because of size or strength, though time made him both mighty and majestic. He stood by Nicholas out of devotion. Whether curled at his feet or charging into danger without hesitation, Barry’s guiding instinct was always to protect the one who once saved him.
By the time Nicholas boards an ice-bound ship heading north, Barry has outgrown his pup frame. Even hardened sailors whisper:
“Must be good for hunting, a dog of that size.
Bet he could take down a stag.”
Yet this formidable Saint Bernard still folds his massive body beneath the stars, curling around Nicholas to shield him from the bitter chill. During their voyage from port to polar sea, Barry’s presence gives Nicholas warmth and resolve.
Strength Comes in Many Forms
Barry never wielded a sword or donned armour, but he was a warrior all the same. In The Rise of Nicholas the Noble, Barry weathers icy seas, battles mythical beasts, and stands tall against forces far larger than himself, always placing himself between danger and the heart he loves.
“He was willing to lay down his life for us; now we
will do the same for him…Isn’t that what love does?
Lays down its life for a friend?”
Whether plunging through ice-cold waters to save Nicholas, springing into combat when ancient shadows rise, or breaking free from captivity imposed by dark sorcery, Barry acts heroically. Yet his greatest power is hope. As long as Barry is here, even the darkest night can yield to dawn.
What Barry Represents
In many ways, Barry embodies the deepest threads woven through The Rise of Nicholas the Noble: friendship, loyalty, and a love that never falters. His journey parallels Nicholas’s, not as a silent companion, but as a core strand of the story itself.
Without Barry, Nicholas might never have endured the perils that forged him into his destiny. And without Nicholas, Barry might have remained just another dog. Together, they became legend. Without them, the Christmas we know might never have come to pass.
No Spoilers, But… Barry’s Just Getting Started
We won’t spoil the surprises awaiting readers, but Barry’s greatest feats still lie ahead. In coming tales, his acts of courage will shift the course of history. Rumour in the Santaverse whispers of a massive Saint Bernard rescuing lost travellers in the Rockies, pulling children from frozen caves, and appearing wherever hope flickers. Some say Barry became a protector not only of one boy, but of all who needed saving.
Meet the other characters of The Rise of Nicholas the Noble and Watch the book trailer!