I didn't know what to make of this foreigner. It was not the first time i had dealing with the race known as human but I didn't know much. information like that was very tightly guarded even to promising bastard warriors like myself. Maybe I would have been told one day if I had continued my fathers training

Gods I hated that man,

he was no father simply a sperm Donor and my owner. A Fact he never let me forget. I took a dark pleasuree in knowing his true heir and son would return from the patrol to find that man that tortured him dead and the half breeds he has so much contempt in control of the fort.

May i offer a suggestion I said to wolfgang” I think we should prioritize freeing anyone who is half breed because the patrol will be back in less than two days and we need to be ready. I have some suggestions for usefull prisoners that might or at least help us defend against this incursion. He nodded and handed me the key

I was dumbfounded he essentially gave me the key to “every slave in this fort increasing my respect and admiration for him grew again’ he saw thenlook on myface and put a hand in my shoulder and said

“We are stronger together” He told

I looked at him with a complex mess of emotions seemingly unsure what to say or how to feel.

I decided at that moment that I liked this mysterious man.

I could sense the compassion in him and see disgust on His face whenever he saw a collar, I understood. I hated those abominations.

“Who should we unlock first” the stranger asked

My ears peaked up as a commander in training. I knew of some of the other hybrids that were loyal to me and could fight. It occurred to me i couldnt keep calling this man the stranger so i asked his name

He looked at me and responded “ its vonduke or just for von for short”

He then asked where the armory was with glee in his eye

I gave him directions and before he sped off like some bird he told me to unlock and start garrison the fort saying ‘‘we need to be ready when the patrol came back

My first choice was konrock or Kon as he preffered . He was half elf half dwarf. He could take and give hits so as i walked to his cell he started seeing the ring of pale flesh around my neck and the polished key of hate in my hand he was so confused

The slavery collar would have stopped me from killing my father and even if he died by some accident you couldnt use the key if your had a collar on so how could i have it. His first assumption if I knew him like I thought I did would be religious. He was of the religion made for hybrids they worshiped a god of diversity and life. They had some weird idea that some savior would come one day. Despite what happened I didnt believe any of that but i respected his beliefs so when he asked with a shaky breath “ have the lord finally sent us the savior” hope that I didnt want to crush filled his eyes``

“Perhaps” I said looking away. “ a human freed me and killed my father then gave me the key and told me to free those I trusted so we could defend the fort against the returning patrol. “ so the prophecy is real” he yelled in exuberance

I then touched the key to his collar and it fell away.

“Maybe it is but it won't matter if we dont survive today im going to unlock the others i need you to mann the crows nest and warn us when they are approaching i'm going to free the others

Next I went to find Tike. Hw was a fae elf hybrid meaning his skills were no joke.

I found him in the enchantry and took his collar off before he even knew iwas there . He looked up shocked .

“No time to explain meet in the courtyard i'm getting the others” i told

He nodded and ran, taking a deeper breather than I'd ever heard him take.

I did the same for tuk

Now i had my hardest job

The last hybrid I went to get was the royal elf tiefling hybrid but how she came to be and why she was here was another story. I was sure von would want to make her a vassal if she was amenable. She was powerful, having the ability to produce ethereal wings, the mark of a royal elf, that allowed for flight and for use in combat , not to mention all her other powers.

She saw me approach her cage even in the dark, she was probably more powerful than even the commander had ever been. She scared me but if we are survive she could prove crucial

She stared at my neck with its lack of a collat fingering her own then her eyes moved to the key in my hand . suddenly she was at the cage wall a look of desperation in her eyes

I opened her cage and took off the collar. She grabbed a hold of me and I felt my bones. Oh no she's gonna kill me i think until i hear chiking sobs coming from her . slowling she let me go tears streaming down her face

How can i repay you’” she asked

Come to the courtyard in a few minute id like you to meet von he made all this possible

Speakingof von, I should go find him. I remembered he said he was going toward the armory. Based on how he fought my father it was obvious he had some training and serious willpower . but what saved him was how adapted He i could see his creative use of magic and making a series of things work in sync to make an effect that shouldnt have been possible but his father had always been

Overconfident and arrogant. I was simply lucky it led to his downfall

I contemplated these thoughts while making my way through the armory. I noticed which suit set was missing and approved. Von obviously had good sense and taste, He had admired that set himself many times

Suddenly I heard howling and snarling and rushed for the door to the stable only to see von staring at the alpha blue wolf until it barked . I looked around seeing the empty cages and anger rising “WHERE ARE THE BLUE WOLVES?”