He opened his curtains briefly to confirm what time it really was, only to find himself blinded by the morning sun. His eyes shut and stung immediately, shielding themselves from the blinding light.
It's just like the sphere of light in the Between, with the exception of that weird voice. I guess I was in there for longer than I realized, he thought.
He closed his shutters with his eyes reduced to small slits on his face, and relaxed once the light had been removed from the room. He recovered from his short-lived ordeal and took the flask out of his pocket, placing it on his bedside table. He sat down on his bed, staring at the flask for a moment, eventually tucking himself under his blanket.
He lay awake for a few minutes, reviewing everything he had learned. He tried to contain his excitement for what the next day might hold. He closed his eyes, thoughts running wild, and decided to quiet them with the techniques he had learned earlier so he could sleep.
Meanwhile, the featherless creatures made their way to their destinations, avoiding being seen at all costs. They hid themselves from prying eyes during daylight, using terrain features as cover while they moved to their destinations. The first arrived just after midnight in northern Hjalfar, where a group of outcast Synners resided.
A hooded figure left his house after noticing a winged creature's silhouette blocking his view of the full moon. He followed its general direction a short distance outside the main town. He found the beast perched on a low-lying branch of an oak tree, with its wings folded like a large bird of prey.
Once he had gotten close enough to see the creature, the hooded figure was startled at its sight. Its dark skin glistened and its pale eyes reflected the moonlight, making it look like something out of his worst nightmares.
"What are you?" he asked quietly. The creature responded with a quiet snort and turned, showing him the leather pouch. The man cautiously stepped forward, after all, he had been trained to trust no beast he would ever encounter. After realizing the creature meant him no harm, he reached out and opened the pouch, removing its contents.
The time has come for those of you who read this message to take back what was once taken from you: your positions of power, your dignity, your families, and your loved ones. Join me and take it all back, cutting down all those who oppose you. Slay the leaders without mercy and bring their reigns to an end, his eyes widened in surprise at what he was reading.
"Could it be?" he muttered before continuing to read.
Only after doing so will you answer to no man and be free to rule your country as you see fit. Take back what is rightfully yours. Take back your homes. Revive your stagnant and wasted lives, and allow yourselves to live again. Join me, and I will help you regain what you lost. I am the Masked One, and I have spoken, he concluded, quickly folding the note.
Why is he acting now? Something must have changed. I need to warn the others, he thought.
"I will answer the call," he replied, stuffing the note into a pocket. The creature snorted once more and flew off from whence it came. He ran back to the small town and began calling out the names of his friends and allies. They opened their doors to see him, standing in the middle of the housing district, with a scroll in his hand and arms spread wide.
"By the gods both light and dark, why must you call us out at this time of night?" one of the women asked. "Anders, you'd better have a good reason for waking us up at this hour," the woman called out. "I have received something that might aid us in our fight," Anders said aloud.
"And I suppose it's from that note you've got in your hand," the woman said. "Unni, I know you've always doubted me, but this time I'm asking you to trust me," Anders sighed as Unni spat in response to the comment. "Why should we? I mean, every raid you have ever led us on has gotten us shit for progress," she stepped forward and spread her arms.
"I know that it's been nearly ten years since we've been considered outcasts, and that those multiple attempts at revenge have gotten us almost nowhere. This time, however, he's making his move. There is hope, real hope, this time we'll succeed. I need your support now, more than ever, Unni. Please," Anders grabbed her shoulders gently.
She regarded him curiously, then shook her head with a shrug. "Fine, but if this fails, it's on you," she sighed, making him smile as he turned to address the others peeking out from behind cracks in their doors.
"My friends, I'm not going to ask you to take what I have to say lightly, but I have new insight that has given me hope for our futures. The Masked One has called upon us to take back our homes, our land, and be reunited with our families," he began, noticing a handful of the others in the small village were starting to step out into the cold.
"I understand that there have been many times where I have led us astray in the past, but this time, we have his support. Join me, and help me take back our homes, our lives! Let's get it all back!" he shouted, turning to look at those who had come forth. "How can you trust that secluded mage after all he's done?" an older man asked, making Anders shrug.
"I don't think you want to stay here any longer than I do," he began, getting nods of agreement from a handful of others. "All I'm saying is that, with his support, we can finally return to our homes!" he continued. "How do you know for sure that he was the one who sent it and that it's not some trap?" the older man asked. "Unni, please," Anders handed her the note.
She raised an eyebrow but took it anyway, rebuilding the cracked wax seal on the folded edge. "Fy faen i helvete," she muttered in disbelief, looking back at him with a grin. "Anders speaks the truth," she shouted, holding it up for all to see. More mutters of agreement were scattered among the growing crowd, but Anders noticed one of the younger members gathering his courage to speak.
"Fuck dying of old age. I want to go home!" he shouted. "Let's take it back! Let's take it all back!" another middle-aged woman shouted, garnering nods of support from those around her.