"Lower level dolls can only communicate with other dolls of the same type. However, this is an Emperor doll. The best I can make."

An hour later, nine Alpha Wolves stood in the courtyard. Mortimus picked nine people for the mission and sent everyone else away. Nix stood in front of the pack, nodding in satisfaction at his work.

"The wolve-dolls won't get tired or hungry. They are stronger and faster than a normal dire wolf." He brought up a hud of Zintia, "it will take you an entire day to run there."

"What if we are discovered?" Mortimus's voice seemed out of place coming from a Dire Wolf.

"Use stealth and avoid confrontation. However, don't leave any loose ends."

"You'll meet us there?" Scarlett decided to go also since it was a mission that offered no real danger to her.

"Don't worry about me. I'm going in another way. Each of you can control up to a thousand Dire Wolves. Create as much chaos as you can."

**************

A short while later Nix and Gil were riding their horses hard for the Iron Pike Trading Post; they would leave them with Hoot and then proceed North another five miles where they would enter the Breezie River. The Breezie river offered them a direct route into the Zintian Sea. After looking at a map, it became apparent that a second approach to Zintia could be made. An aquatic team could come up from under the Ice and enter Menial's stronghold.

The journey pa.s.sed by quickly. After leaving the horses with Hoot, they entered the Breezie river with Soup and clung to her sh.e.l.l as she used all of her speed to get them to the Zintian Sea. They entered the sea before dark and went deeper so they wouldn't run into the forming ice as they moved north.

Gil would occasionally pat the SeTurtles sh.e.l.l or ask Nix questions but for the most part the journey was spent in peaceful darkness. He was glad to have been asked to come, it was a chance for his Turtle Clan to s.h.i.+ne.

After traveling for nearly a day, Nix and Gil let Soup hunt while they continued to travel.

Gil's underwater vision was enhanced, so he understood that Nix must have something similar. "How close are we do you think?"

"Only a few hours away." Nix could feel the Ice all around him, but more than that he could feel that a powerful Ice Artifact was close. It was one of the benefits of carrying the Blessing of Ice. "We'll make it before the Wolf Team does."

Gil felt a presence behind them and turned to see Soup chasing them down. "Soup's back Nix."

************

Nix drew Wrath and pushed flames into the hilt. Immediately the darkness of the deep sea lit up. An ice flow that was probably a quarter of a mile thick stood between them and any kind of entrance to Menial's stronghold.

Every time the Fury sword touched the ice, a large section of it immediately melted. The water followed them nearly the entire way up as they created a tunnel wide enough for Soup to enter. Nix didn't understand the physics of it, but if he asked Bev, she could definitely give him an answer. Finally, the water stopped advancing upward with them and Nix cut out a side-pa.s.sage.

"That thing is really handy." Gil watched as Nix carved out an entire room for Soup to wait in.

Nix nodded in agreement. "It's good for killing things also."

"Sure... that too."

From here Nix and Gil continued alone. The Inferno leader changed into his armor and ignited his emerald aura. Tunneling through the ice became easy as they created a winding pa.s.sage upward.

Gil followed behind him occasionally offering comments. "This is a long way Nix. What if we have to retreat?"

"That's the fun part, Gil. Sit on your backside and slide down."

An hour later, Nix and Gil finally ran into the keep's stone foundation. Having no other choice, Nix melted his way into it. The Turtle t.i.tan was forced to retreat several meters because of the blistering heat.

It only took a few minutes to enter into an open s.p.a.ce. There were crates stacked nearly to the ceiling.

"Looks like a storage room. Let's 'wolf-up' from here." Nix took out his last two Dire-Wolf dolls and placed them on the floor.

[Animate]

Your Animator t.i.tle enables you to double the effectiveness of all mannequins you inhabit.

"Yeah, I know. Stealth up Gil and follow."

[Stealth]

Nix scrambled over the top of the crates and pushed the door open with his huge head. He turned to see his partner following close behind.

"How come you're bigger than me?"

"Must be an added benefit of my 'Animator' t.i.tle. Let's find Menial."