They had all received a message from a senior seer that they were needed there. It was rare for them to be summoned altogether. This was an indication that there was a problem and probably a serious one at that.
Seers were very important in every community for they were like a roadmap to everyone in the path called life. Many worked hard for the sake of the continuity of their clans. However, misfortune lay ahead of some. With seers pointing out these misfortunes to them before they happened, they would end up not dying prematurely and the value of life was realized as well. It was for this reason that they were greatly revered.
Apart from respect, the seers were also feared by the populace. It was believed that they could kill someone by just saying a word. Surprisingly enough, the seers themselves knew that it was not within their power to kill by words. People died because they had so much faith in the seers that even when they were told that they would die the next day, due to fear, they would just die. This was a callous deception but a tool that made the seers stand in another realm of life.
"Everyone calm down."
A young woman stood before the crowd. She cleared her throat before trying to calm the crowd with a language that at least all the seers present could understand.
"That is Alenda Nyamwalo. She may look young on the surface but she is over two hundred seasons old. Romuors have it that she's the greatest seer to ever walk on the surface of Keniya."
"I heard that she killed a beast and ate it alive. Since then, her appearance have been like that of a hundred and twenty seasons old."
"She has been quiet for long now, it is laughable that I thought she had died."
...
Such discussions could be heard the moment the young woman stood. For a few seconds, the uneasiness in the atmosphere was gone. Nevertheless, it was true that everyone was here because they were summoned by this Alenda Nyamwalo, they could not help but look at her curiously after the uneasiness returned.
"I am so sorry to have you here despite your busy schedules. Therefore, I will be straight to the point so that you go back to your businesses." After the crowd had quieted, Alando began, "There is a message I got from those chosen wizards."
The wizards she was talking about were those from the Hall of Righteousness. They were people specifically chosen to serve the whole of Keniya. Therefore, they had means to communicate with people. Seers met tribe heads regularly. It was therefore more convenient to leave a message that concerned many tribes to the seers.
As Alando spoke, the crowd remained deathly silent so as not to miss a single word.
"You all know that we have had problems with creatures that look like us but with heads like hyenas in the past. You all know that they have always killed our people. Great men have risen to destroy them but are powerless before them."
The crowd nodded with deep frowns between their brows.
"Getting to our land is always a problem. However, they have found a way of getting here easily and there is a possibility of an invasion in the near future. You are asked to warn your tribe heads to prepare their warriors for a terrible battle ahead."
She finished but still looked at the crowd, waiting for them to absorb the piece of information they just received.
"Great Alenda," a tall youth at the back stood and bowed respectfully before continuing, "We have seen in the past that they are powerful even against human powerhouses. How can we prepare our warriors for their slaughter?"
"According to the wizards, after the warriors are fully prepared, the wizards will use their powers to bring them together after which there is a warrior who is powerful against such creatures who will march them to the battlefield." The woman patiently explained.
"There is such a person in the world?" The crowd wondered.
Amongst the seers was a middle-aged woman. She was busy enjoying the flesh of a mango fruit despite being in this serious meeting. Even when Alenda spoke, she was enjoying the delicious juice brought by the fruit. It was until Alenda mentioned the fact that a warrior powerful enough to deal with the Black Fiends existed did she put the fruit down before falling into a daze.
"Ochieng', it is your time to s.h.i.+ne. My only wish is to fight beside you when that time comes." She mattered under her breath with longing painted in her eyes.
An old seer sitting beside her noticed the unnormality in her, he could not help but ask, "What could be wrong with Nyangini, the great seer of the south?"
"It is nothing Magoko. I am just okay." She waved her hands unconcerned.
"Can it be...you know the warrior?"
As a man who had lived for several years, there were few things that could go past him without him noticing. It is not surprising that he could figure out such a thing.
The woman was Nyangini, the seer who hosted Ochieng' when he was from the forbidden land. She knew that telling the old man the truth could only cause an unnecessary commotion.
"No."
She answered calmly and went silent.
"You should all leave now. Time is not with us. The earlier you inform the tribe heads of the matter, the better."
Just when the old man wanted to keep asking questions, Alenda's voice resounded once more.
The seers were gifted people just like the wizards. However, their work was only limited to a small geographical area. That meant that the number of people they served were limited. Furthermore, their only duty was to predict the future. They were not very important to the Ordainers. That was the reason why they knew almost nothing about those people. The few who knew, were those who were chosen to serve the Ordainers.