As the ma.s.sive orange sun rose from the east, a large long brown snake was crawling circuitously towards a certain cave. It was flicking its red forked tongue continuously while avoiding small rocks with its tiny head. Its rounded yellow eyes were glowing viciously as it made its way to that cave. Inside the cave, ten humans and five beasts were now trembling vigorously as rays of sunlight permeated the cave through small openings across its walls. They knew their deaths was closer than before and every breath meant their death being closer.
At a certain corner, a twenty year old man remained collected. He was looking at the other ten humans and his five beasts with a smile. Even though he was not sure whether what he had in mind would work or not, he was not worried. No one saw how cool he was.
Suddenly, a sound reminiscent of a downpour was heard just at the entrance of the cave.
"Ochieng", I must say that it has been an honor. I have always wanted to protect you despite being weaker than you but this creature is way too powerful. Even though I can"t help, I must admit that I am more than proud to die by your side."
Ratong" knew that their fate had been sealed and there was no way they would walk out of that place alive. So, it turned to Ochieng" and with a sorrowful face it said.
Mudho on the hand was in tears. It was the closest fellow to Ochieng" in this crew. It had been with the young man since he was just about eight years old until he was the man he was. It was like a father to him. It had always been proud to see him grow to the person he currently was. Which parent wouldn"t? Seeing him on the verge of death made its heart ache.
It wanted to say something but in the end chose to be quiet. It knew that there were things that were better kept in heart.
...
"You are telling me that you want to meet my master?"
The moment the serpent entered the cave, Ochieng" said that he had a request. It had expected that the young man would ask for a chance to say goodbye to his family or anything else, but to ask for a chance to see its master, was its master a certain common man to be met by anybody?
"That is right, there is one thing that I have to tell him before I meet my end." Ochieng" said still having a fearless expression.
"Whatever you tell me you can trust will reach him..." the serpent said smugly.
"I think it is important that I tell him personally, after all, you will have all the time to kill me." Ochieng" said with a mellow face.
The serpent harrumphed before deciding to take Ochieng" with it to its master. It did not know what the young man had to say. If it turned out to be important, it would be in trouble.
Ochieng" was untied and walked away leaving the others behind. To tread on the side of caution, the serpent magically blinded the young man before letting him sit on its large body. Then it vanished.
When it appeared again, it was already inside a specious room with beautiful furniture. On a certain chair sat a white haired old man sipping liquor.
"There is my master, tell him what you have to tell him before he gets angry."
The serpent threw Ochieng" on the floor a few meters from the old man before opening his eyes.
Looking at the room, Ochieng"s jaws dropped for it was the first time he was seeing a room so beautiful, furniture so unique and a room so specious. It took him a whole minute to just look around.
Turning his head on the old man, he was even petrified. When he heard that the serpent"s master was a G.o.d worshipped by the Mbeu people, he had expected to meet a spirit or anything different from a certain old man. But an old man that was extremely thin looking like he had no bone, how was he even worshipped?
"Why do you bring this man here snake?"
With a rough yet authoritative voice, the old man asked without opening his eyes that had been closed for all this time.
"He said he has something to tell you master..."
"How many times do you want me to tell you not to disturb my peace?" The old man cut the beast short angrily.
"I am sorry master for my incompetence. Let me send him away..."
"You have already brought him, let him speak but let it be worth my time."
Even before Ochieng" opened his mouth, a certain tail had already hit his back twice accompanied by an impatient shout, "Talk!"
"Master, my name is Ochieng" from Karachuo Division in Lu tribe. I found myself here because I am an Ordainer..."
Ochieng" couldn"t finish because at some point in time, the serpent had shrunk with eyes widened and tongue left out carelessly. The old man"s eyes had opened and the cup he was drinking from had long dropped. The room had even mysteriously become so silent that the trembling of the serpent could be heard.
"Did you say you are an Ordainer?"
It took the old man a while before calming down. At this moment, his voice was soft and respectful.
"Yes master." The young man answered respectful.
Thump!
The old man fell to his knees. Looking at Ochieng" tearfully he said,
"I have lived for years waiting for this time to come. A few weeks ago I heard that those creatures from another world had infiltrated our land and sooner than later our land would be destroyed. I know I was blessed by the One from above but compared to you, my skills are below average, please welcome to my home."
He helped Ochieng" to one of the chairs before apologizing on his behalf and his servant"s.
"What are you still waiting for, you go bring my guest some food." He ordered.