The seven were left looking at each other in bewilderment. Amongst them, only Okeyo was a wizard who did not even care about the rest of humanity for he was not a chosen wizard. The guardian was a Saint wizard who could handle things better than those chosen ones, he was however powerless at the moment. The other five were gifted in their own ways. Mboya, Mwiga and Apeleka did not even know how gifted they were, needless to say how they could use their gifts to help. While Labosa was a witch, she had spent most of her life in seclusion, she did not understand how to deal with problems that concerned everyone in Keniya.
"Okeyo, only wizards can teleport from one place to another. I am powerless at the moment but even if I wasn't, there was no way I could have helped. This is because I can't stay in Keniya for long, I..."
The guardian said dismally. However, before he even finished, he was pulled out of this place by a powerful force. In a flash, he was already gone leaving the six alone.
"He must have been taken away to the Saint land. Saints aren't able to stay in our land for long." Okeyo shook his head bitterly. The others nodded in realization.
"What do we do then?"
Everyone turned to Okeyo. Being the oldest amongst the six and boasting the highest degree of knowledge, he had to be the de facto leader of the group.
"Even though we aren't chosen ones, I know where the deserts of the Northern areas is. We can just teleport to a random place and take whoever we find there and take them to the deserts. What do you think?"
"I agree with you."
"Me too."
"We better be quick..."
One after another, the other five nodded agreement. Without dawdling, Okeyo covered the others with an invisible energy before disappearing.
...
"I knew it, I knew Ochieng' could never kill us. I knew it!"
The southern part of Keniya was inhabited by pastoralists. These pastoralists hardly cultivated their land. Because of that, they were always surrounded by bushes with many primordial trees and herbs. However, there was a hundred square meters land which was luxuriant with green young sorghum and millet. Weaverbirds were already making their nests on nearby trees to wait for the plants' maturity stage. It was peaceful until a group of five beasts and an old man appeared. One of the beasts was jumping stupidly with euphoria. Tears of joy streamed down its ugly face.
"Ratong', you shouldn't get excited yet, Ochieng' is still in their hands remember." Upon seeing the lion jump like a child who couldn't wait to see mama come with a favourite snack, the human reminded.
"Kuru is right. We can't just be happy yet."
Ratong' calmed down upon hearing Mudho. They had been teleported by Ochieng' to Keniya. It was a random thing and they even had no idea where they were. They did not even know what would happen to their leader, it was quite unfair to celebrate yet. Before they saw victory, they could not afford to be happy.
"Let us take a walk, I want to know where we are now." Kuru said.
Wuush!
Just when they were about to move, they saw a flash of light before six people and a small bird emerged from nowhere to stand before them. Upon seeing them, the five beasts and the human were petrified and for a long time they just stood there with eyes wide open that a chicken egg could be stuffed in very easily. The other group was no different. This was especially so for their leader and, the young woman in the group and a bird that was standing on her shoulder. While she had her beautiful eyes wide open, the bird had its orange beak fully opened and its wings were spread in an abnormal way. It was breathing faster than anything.
"Apeleka."
Mudho was the first one to wake up from its moment of stupor. It was followed by the others. They then sprinted towards the girl with excited faces. Jade Eagle was not as attached to the girl as the other beasts but it was not left behind. Jakony was its child and it was more than happy to see it.
"Okeyo, you are here?"
Kuru did not know Apeleka or anyone in that group apart from Okeyo, Lubaku Mukenge's most powerful student. He was surprised to see his colleague here but when he remembered the death of Lanok who was put under his care, he started worrying.
"Kuru, such a long time and that is the face you are giving me... I thought we were friends." Okeyo smiled mockingly.
"Lanok your friend died and I could not even avenge him." Kuru answered hesitantly.
"I know about his death. I also know that he was killed by a man far more important than even myself. You know that and that shouldn't really make you sad."
Okeyo said before walking towards Kuru. They greeted each other full of joy. It had been long since they last saw each other. On the other hand, Mboya, Mwiga and Labosa were left watching helplessly. They were acquainted with none of the six. They had to wait jealousy for the nine to catch up.
"Kuru, tell me, what are you doing here with these beasts? Are you still an Ordainer?"
After about thirty minutes of hugging, licking, gentle pecking and laughing, the nine were done and Okeyo couldn't help but ask Kuru doubtfully
"I am not an Ordainer. You know I can't be once another Ordainer appears. Actually, these are the current Ordainer's beasts. As for what we are doing here, we just appeared." Kuru answered while shaking his head. Deep in his eyes one could see traces of regret.
Since Ordainers started appearing, he was probably the first one to ever lose his powers before achieving anything significant. While he had accepted his fate, his heart had been aching due to that. What made him sad was the fact that he would have been the last one of his kind. He would have achieved what none of his predecessors did and his death would have shaken the entire world. What was left of him now was an old wizard with one foot on the grave. He only had thirty years to live since Ochieng' was born. Twenty of his years had already been consumed, he was left with ten. However, never had two Ordainers lived at the same time. Meeting Ochieng' made his bonus years reduce. He had less than three years to live right now and that made him a sad man.
"Since the Ordainer has been captured, the lives or deaths of the people living in Keniya depend on us. The Black Fiends have infiltrated Keniya in large numbers, are you going to help us?" After chatting with Kuru for a little while longer, Okeyo turned to Kuru and his companions and asked.
"They are here?" Kuru was shocked.
"Yes."
"What do we need to do then? You know all of us alone without an Ordainer are powerless before those creatures." Kuru asked worriedly.
"Just follow me."
Okeyo beckoned and they all followed him.