Origin: Eternity's End

by Uneeb Qureshi

  Locals bowed to her in reverence as she passed them, she nodded to each of them politely.

  “I taught them how to create their homes, cook food and utilize the herbs of these ravines,” she spoke the ancient immortal tongue fluently, “as my mother and her mother did before me, yet these ungrateful savages treat me like an animal.” She turned her head to Sheppard as he stood by her. “And now your question must be, ‘Who are you?’”

  He nodded, “Something like that. You seem to have expected us for some time… Are you truly the Earth Goddess herself?”

  She lowered her head and shook it slowly.

  “No.” She looked into his eyes, “But your people and mine are the same.”

  Her eyes were strikingly similar.

  “My grandmother was of your people,” she continued while staring into the flaming pyre before them, “and she had brought my mother here to escape the suffering in our homeland.”

  Sheppard joined her by the pyre and warmed his body in the flame’s glow.

  “This once nomadic tribe eventually subjugated us, ravaged my mother, and beat my grandmother when she refused to serve as a slave.” She paused and pointed to her eyes. “Until they realized we were different.”

  He asked her the only question he could think of at the moment.

  “What was your grandmother’s name?”

  The woman paused and looked down at the ground, “Eilara, mother of Maije.”

  The name hit him like a rock, his migraine instantly vanished as the adrenaline rushed through his veins, “And I am Jo, daughter of Maije.” She finished.

  Sheppard knew now why she was deathly familiar. “I know of a Maije.” He said, piquing her curiosity, “She and I knew one another long ago in the west… She was a strong woman.” He smiled and reassured her.

  Her heart pounded, tears welled in her eyes. He was just like her mother had described him. She smiled trying to keep her composure yet her voice choked on tears.

  “My mother said you would come. She had described you just as you are now…” She hesitated to touch him as she lifted his clothing revealing a birthmark on the front of his shoulder. “Yes,” she cried, “you are him…”

  She faltered to the ground trying to control her tears while she covered her mouth and cried. With her other hand she grabbed his arms and pleaded.

  “Please, you must save me from them.”

  Sheppard was alarmed at the request. He had barely survived the attack earlier, and this whole settlement was well-guarded. Nothing he or his companions could do would emancipate her.

  “My mother told me…you would come for me, eventually... you had promised her…”

  Sheppard was elated and finished her words, “I had promised her I’d return many years ago,” he looked around, “Where is she? Where is your mother? We have much to talk about.”

  Jo looked away and whispered silently.

  “She has been dead for nearly ten years.”

  His heart sank. The thought of her words weighed very heavily on him. He had failed the only woman in the world that knew him at all. In that moment he yearned to mourn for her but with his old friend’s daughter kneeling before him for strength he had to remain resolute.

  “This chieftain killed her because she questioned him and his authority…” The barbarity of the circumstance only made Sheppard angrier, “And like his father he will marry me in a ceremony to justify his family’s rule. For who else would oppose a Goddess?”

  “If they claim you are a Goddess then tell the people what to do!” He beckoned her to use what power she had, maybe together they could accomplish something.

  “Do you think my mother did not try that? She was killed in front of me for her insolence, he told me that I would be next if I followed her example!” She cried.

  “The whole village cannot be against you…” Sheppard had to rethink this plan.

  “They are not, many seek to rid themselves of their chieftain’s oppression and leave these lands. Many of these villagers are slaves. You have to stop him–”

  “What would you have me do then?” Sheppard yelled.

  Jo motioned him to remain calm as not to arouse suspicion.

  “Kill him? And then what? None of these people would survive against marauders if we were to kill their only protectors, they would become like us! Wanderers…nomads.”

  “Then take them with us back to your homelands far to the west!”

  “The western settlements are no more, did your mother not tell you that? That is why your people fled.”

  Jo nodded, “She did, but she told me some of them still stood.”

  Sheppard knew such a plan was folly. He knew nothing was left, he had seen it first-hand. Years earlier he had left Jo’s homeland to discover the fate of the rest of his people, only to return to the sight of a blighted village filled with festering corpses. He took the only two survivors he could find nearby, Arnael and Solb.

  “I had borne him children,” she continued in disgust, “and he killed them, all of them sons… in order to keep his rule in mortal blood. He’ll take me again soon, to try and bear a daughter who would not question him, and then...”

  The thoughts of murder weighed heavily on him.

  “They do not know we are like you then?” Sheppard asked.

  She shook her head, “They were taught to believe you as messengers of a great warrior-king from the west. One who would grant them an alliance and thus power eternal over this world. It seems they are still lost in their greed.”

  Sheppard refused to lower himself to those that slaughtered Jo’s people in the West. His heart sank as he said the next words.

  “This isn’t me. I am not a murderer.”

  She looked at him, first in disbelief. “Are you not Sheppard the first immortal?”

  “That is my name but I know not if I am the first, there may yet be one older and stronger than I. One who is not bound to such a cursed banishment…so who knows.”

  “That does not mean anything!” She screamed in the immortal tongue, “You are the first of our people! Of my mother’s people! Doesn’t that mean anything to you? You gave us this life, are you now forsaking it!?”

  He pushed her aside and distanced himself from her. He wiped his face as if shrugging off the confrontation between her.

  She knew what was going through his mind. Jo fell to her knees and turned her back to him. Her tear’s dropped to the dry earth, nourishing it.

  She wept at his inaction, the hero she had awaited to save her from this life was leaving her behind. There was no hope for anything now.

  Sheppard looked at her with pity. This was not the first time he had made a woman cry. And he had done it again with that woman’s only daughter.

  But all was not lost. For all the people in the world he knew best, Maije was the most unwavering and determined. And he knew that Jo, like her mother, would not go through with this ‘marriage’ even at the cost her life.

  Her mother would have taught her better.

  He smiled and knelt beside her. She feigned a scowl until he put his hands on her shoulders and laughed. She did not know whether he was mad or stupid.

  “All you had to say was that your mother was Maije, then I know you would accept no other option,” He smirked as he wiped the tears from her cheeks, “But let me plan with my brothers before we act.”

  “They are of your blood?” She wiped the remainder of the tears from her face.

  “They are as close to blood as I know.” He responded, “Let us return. While he may be a monster…but he is also a gracious host, his blood will be paid another day…”

  She agreed and followed him closely to the hut where Solb was recanting a dashing tale of adventure to the other villagers.

  Jo conversed intimately with Sheppard for the remainder of the night. Her company would be the only solace he had while scheming the murderous retribution.

  Dawn broke the next day as the village stirred with activity.

&
nbsp; Sheppard awoke to discover Jo resting on his shoulder. He moved slightly as not to wake her and exited the tent to search for his brothers.

  Solb eyed him emerging from the tent.

  “You’re quite good friends now. She’s quite a woman.”

  He smiled, “I don’t know what she thinks of me… But one thing I do know Solb, is that she is Maije’s daughter.”

  Solb jumped in shock, he rushed to the hut and peeked inside.

  “No!” He glanced inside several times in disbelief. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice that sooner!” He could not control himself. “What’s her crazy mother doing nowadays?”

  Sheppard hung his head as he recalled the previous night. Solb understood the gesture and dropped his jaw in dismay.

  “She’s…?” Arnael asked.

  “Dead.” He pointed up a nearby hill, “Follow me.”

  The sun crept over the horizon as they made the trek over the hill. Arnael caught up with them along the way. Sheppard helped each of them atop a mound before explaining what had transpired the previous night.

  The news of their old friend hit them hard. She had been close to them all in some way.

  “We have to free her daughter.” Arnael added.

  Sheppard nodded and consoled Solb.

  “Kill them all…” Solb whispered.

  Sheppard grabbed his friend by the collar of his tunic and pushed Solb to the ground in anger. “Have you learned nothing from your past? We’d become just like them. As malevolent as those that destroyed your homeland, is that what you want?”

  Solb shook his head.

  Sheppard helped him up. “I have a better plan.”

  Days passed as the three lived peacefully among the villagers. While there they kept up their façade as the deliverers of power that was promised to the chieftain, all the while forming their vengeance.

  The chieftain waited for the night of power that was to come the next day, when the fabricated prophecy of Western armies would become his own. That was when their plan would be exacted.

  The three kept Jo under their watch at all times as condition of the agreement. They taught the villagers nearly everything they knew of the world and its innate workings. Mastery of the flame and elements would give the villager’s strength to rise against the chieftain when the time called for it.

  Jo had given them the information they needed to conduct their attack, now all they needed was the right moment to strike.

  But not all their time there was spent on calculating justice. Often Sheppard played with the children in the fields, always the antagonist during their role play.

  Jo would follow the crowd as the children pummeled him mercilessly, ‘killing the desert monster’. She ran in and urged the girls to help jump on Sheppard and bring him to the ground.

  She, along with the other children, jumped onto his back and caught him off balance, forcing him to the ground. He spit out dust from the ground as he tried to laugh at the predicament. Jo sat on his back and looked over his face as the children cheered at their success, having conquered the village monster.

  For the first time in years Jo was free to smile.

  “Have I finally slain the beast?” She asked playfully.

  Sheppard nodded and pretended to be dead, causing the children to let out another cheer.

  Solb and Arnael watched from a distance. They could not help but shake their heads and laugh at the situation as well.

  But unbeknownst to them all the village chieftain was watching closely as the Goddess grew more human every day. He ordered his sons to continue their duties. He would deal with Sheppard later.

  That night Jo returned to her tent and waded through her hair to get rid of dirt and grass. The night was unusually cold and she draped herself in sheepskin to stay warm. The thoughts of escaping this life would not leave her.

  A cold draft startled her, by the time she turned around the chieftain towered before her.

  “You seem to be taking a liking to that warrior.” He told her.

  “I am merely… ascending with them to the stars before the armies of the West arrive and kneel at your feet.” Her heart beat faster.

  She knew the chieftain was power hungry.

  He nodded. “Very well,” he turned to leave but stopped to ask her a question, “Do you and that imposter lay in the same bed?”

  Jo stood up in anger and tried to defend Sheppard, “You don’t speak to the Warrior-God like that!”

  The chieftain in his anger grabbed her wrist and forced her to the ground. “I will speak about him as I will!”

  He twisted her arm in rage, spraining her wrists, her screams alerted most of the village but none answered.

  “This imposter will only suffer my patience until the night of power, he is weak and corrupt, like the whore you are.” He whispered into her ears, “The two others are true warriors, they are not weak like he is.”

  She continued to suffer pain as he threw her around wildly. She attempted to hold in the screams but failed.

  Before she gave in to the pain she felt the chieftain’s arm let loose. She looked up and saw Sheppard stand over her, his iris now radiant grey in the dark as he glared at the chieftain and shook his head.

  “What is going on here?” Sheppard demanded.

  “My apologies…Warrior-God, the priestess merely spoke weakly of your warrior prowess, I merely…defended your honor.” The chieftain responded.

  The demeanor with which the chieftain spoke made Sheppard think he was onto their plans. And though he wished to strike down the chieftain now, while he was alone, he restrained himself.

  Now was not the time.

  “Priestess you disappoint me,” Sheppard played along while staring into the chieftain’s eyes. “If we are to ascend the next night we must be prepared to give up the panderings of this world.”

  “I am…sorry for my insolence. Please, forgive me.” She did not look at either of them.

  “I am honored at your presence Warrior-God. Please accept my apologies as well for my misgivings to the Goddess.” The chieftain bowed down and left the tent.

  Sheppard closed his eyes and nodded, “Rest now chieftain, the armies of the West will fall to your knees at sundown the next day.”

  Sheppard and Jo remained in the tent. She held her sprained wrists and glared at Sheppard. Though she had suffered much worse in the previous years, the pain she felt tonight was unforgettable.

  Sheppard felt sorry for the pain she had endured and wished he could keep an eye on her at all times.

  “I am sorry I arrived late.” He said.

  Jo leapt off the ground and assaulted Sheppard. In her rage she, like Sheppard and his companions, experienced an enormous increase in strength. She nearly overwhelmed him but he let her release her anger upon him.

  His nose bloodied and his lip bore cuts and bruises, but he remained silent. She continued until her rage turned to whimpering. She beat his chest until her strength waned, Sheppard could feel her tears on his chest.

  “Why…why didn’t you kill him?” she asked, not knowing who to trust anymore.

  He said nothing. Jo stood and walked toward her bed in silence. With his back on the ground Sheppard looked up outside the tent’s drapery. He lifted himself up and sat for a moment.

  As he wiped the blood off his lip it appeared as if new skin formed immediately. His blood coagulated very quickly.

  “It was not the right time.” He began. “What do you think would have happened if I killed him right here?”

  “I would have been free…” She said.

  “Then the rest of the village would have descended upon us.” He said silently. “We may not have made it out of here alive. Does one assured victory merit no escape?” He stood up and motioned to leave but Jo stopped him.

  “Wait.” She said.

  He paused and looked back at her,

  “Would you please stay with me tonight, I have another bed right beside mine…” She removed her belon
gings from the mats of fur beside her sleeping area.

  Sheppard nodded and then replied, “Let me grab my belongings, then I will return.”

  As he left the tent she rested on her bed in fear.

  “Jo.” He peered back into the tent to reassure her.

  She looked at him once more.

  “Your mother would be sad to see you cry so much. That monster may have taken her from you, but he is more afraid of you than you are of him. We are here now, and we will teach you how to defend yourself. Your mother would want you to be strong and resolute with us even in the face of death.”

  He left promptly to collect his belongings. But by the time he returned she was fast asleep, content and smiling.

  Sheppard slept lightly that night. He had only a few hours between dawn and sunset to prepare for the day that was to come. Everything had been considered, prepared to the last option, or at least he had hoped it had.

  He left her tent to size up his surroundings one last time. He walked to the cliffs overlooking the river and sat with his legs crossed on a knoll, absorbing the scenery.

  He needed moments like this before battle, his last moments of sanity. If he was to leave this world he would leave it knowing the peace of solitude.

  The babbling brooks that echoed through the nearby ravines were the only sounds keeping him awake. The wind blew briskly through his long wavy hair. He removed most of his clothing and felt the wind coolly brushed against his body. He felt weaker, lighter.

  He fell into a hallucinatory state, dreamily fading into his subconscious mind. Memories of the escape from his homeland resurfaced. His heart beat faster at every flashing memory.

  The sound of footsteps alerted him. At first he thought it was his dreams, no one would be awake this early before sunrise unless it was—

  An object whipped his forehead. He caught a brief glimpse of a ram-headed skullcap before he fell unconscious. Blood trickled into his eyes, and a deep pain was felt in his skull.

  Sheppard awoke again to the sound of a voice. His pain suddenly vanished.