Origin: Eternity's End

by Uneeb Qureshi

  She stayed still looking around her, “Who said that?” No response.

  The water began to fill with a floral aroma, a very sensual rush of exotic flowers and plants. “Thank you, whoever is doing this…” She felt like spirits were around her, the whole scene was eerie.

  She felt her skin tingle as the dirt and bruises on her skin were dissolving in the water. She plunged underneath the water allowing her hair to float wet and be cleansed.

  Seconds later the water began draining and re-filling at the same time, she felt the torrents of the drain pushing her way and she resurfaced. The soapy water was being drained allowing fresh water to replace it.

  So intricate…

  After the water settled she stepped out refreshed and renewed. The experience was out-of-this-world. “Thank you…” She whispered to the air, as if spirits were watching her.

  She grabbed the cotton robes lying on the side table and returned to the bedroom. The pack of clothes that Sheppard had brought for her were laid out on the bed, she perused through them and saw they were rather elegant, obviously not belonging to the man.

  She promptly dressed and returned to the living room to thank him but found him passed out from exhaustion near the dining table.

  She walked up to him and placed a spare sheet to cover him. He shifted as if instinctively grabbing the sheets and went back to sleep soundly.

  “Thank you…for everything.”

  Dawn broke silently the next day. Light crept through the drapes and woke the woman up from her slumber. She slept in the clothes she was given by Sheppard the night before.

  She rubbed her eyes and gazed out into the horizon, the expanse of empty land around them was beautiful at dawn. She felt free for once, never having been this far from civilization before.

  She stepped onto the floor wearing spare sandals beside his bed. She entered into the living room hoping to be the first one awake, but found him already awake, praying just as dawn broke the sky. She stepped behind him to the kitchen area and preparing to make food but he interrupted her.

  “There is no need.” He said, as he finished his prayer. “I have already made the necessary provisions for your journey.” He unveiled the sack of food that lay underneath his belongings on the table.

  In the day light her clean skin and dark wavy hair exuded her beauty. She was tall and toned, a woman of labor it seemed. But something told him she was not from these parts.

  She smiled, “Your bath was quite exhilarating, but it was not much for conversation.”

  He gave her an awkward glare, “Right…”

  “Did the djinn prepare the bath?”

  “No, no!” He said as she realized what she meant, “The bath was prepared from…” The explanation would have confused her even more.

  “They were not djinn…though one could consider them as such?”

  She smiled, “Then djinn, they are.” She huddled her veil and covered her head out of modesty in his presence.

  “One could suppose,” Sheppard said with a laugh.

  From inside his home he could hear his mare neighing. Visitors approached his home. Sheppard peered outside of the window and saw a small cavalry fast approaching his dwelling.

  “Stay inside.” He donned his lamellar armor and greaves quickly. He walked outside confidently and kept his gaze fixed on the lead rider. He raised his hand.

  “As-salaam-u-alaikum.”

  “W’alaikum-as-salaam.” Said the rider as he removed his helmet and dismounted. “Brother Shep.” The man outreached for a hug, Sheppard obliged.

  “Brother Ali. It has been some time, what brings you and the other brothers here so early in the morning? Fajr prayer is almost over.”

  “I bring some strange news, brother.” The woman Sheppard had rescued last night exited the dwelling and saw Ali eye-to-eye. “We have reports of a slave who escaped from the master’s house and injured the master in the process.”

  The woman hid behind Sheppard, he would protect her, she thought. Ali glanced back at her periodically.

  “So this woman you say…is the slave?” Sheppard asked.

  “The two men who attacked her last night were instructed to return her to the master’s home.” Ali spoke hesitantly as the woman stood behind Sheppard. “The brother who this slave is indebted to has requested that you surrender her immediately.”

  Ali’s bodyguards began to take steps toward detaining her. “And what business is this to you, oh Ali?” Sheppard asked as he stood in between her and his men.

  “The Caliph himself has received ill reputation regarding one of his captain’s misconducts…they want this to end peacefully and all return as it should…I’m sorry old friend.”

  Sheppard extended his arm pushing her back as Ali continued. “Brother Abdur Rahman reported that you asked for clothes… he does not condemn you, nor do I. But the law is clear, the slave still owes a debt to her master.”

  “Is this true?” Sheppard turned to ask her, she nodded. “And what of your family whom you planned on meeting?”

  Ali hesitated to interject, but the woman responded, “I was supposed to meet my mother and brother after we escaped…We were supposed to return to our tribe who escaped the Battle of Trench…”

  “And were you going to tell me this at some point? Or steal my hospitality and leave unnoticed?” She did not answer.

  “Brother Shep, I am sorry. But we do not wish to cause you any dishonor,” Ali interjected, “we know she has done wrong but there is nothing we can do for her, she still owes a debt—”

  “My family owed no debt!” She screamed, “We were enslaved after the battle!” Sheppard held her back.

  “Settle down! “ Sheppard told her. He looked back at Ali and bartered, “I will buy her freedom, and that of her family. Let the master be known.”

  “Shep that is not all, they saw you take a slave woman into your home—”

  “So are the master and his witnesses claiming anything?” He walked up to Ali, “You have known me for a long time Ali…since you were a child. You know I would never take advantage of a woman, let alone a slave-woman who was attacked in the dead of night. Did I not teach you? Who would I be to preach if I was immoral myself, I am not perfect but I am no hypocrite...”

  Ali nodded, he knew Sheppard too well. Very few would have done what he did so altruistically and humbly.

  “She had little elsewhere to go that night and she was obviously scared, God can forgive her for this, and you and I both know it. What is God if not merciful to us? His slaves?”

  Ali looked at the woman and pitied her, “Young woman, you did not fornicate with this man?”

  She vehemently shook her head and let go of Sheppard. He walked into his home and brought out a chest full of treasures he had collected over the years, spoils of war.

  “Consider this my charity, in the name of God, most gracious, most merciful. This should be sufficient for this woman’s debt and freedom, and that of her family.” Some coins spilt out of the chest’s hinges and fell into the sand.

  Ali ordered his body guards to secure the chest to their pack camel. The woman gazed into Sheppard’s eyes; this man had just bought her freedom. Though she took advantage of his kindness, it did not hinder his decision.

  Ali smirked, “We will arrange to have the other slaves sent to the front of the masjid in Medina.”

  As he turned to leave Sheppard asked. “And how will the rumors against me be exonerated?”

  “With my men and me as witnesses we observed no such occurrence on our arrival.” He looked back at his men and they all nodded, “As far as we saw, you and the woman were found in separate rooms. Do not worry, we will absolve the rumors.”

  Ali and his attaché rode off toward Medina post-haste, leaving Sheppard and the woman alone outside his home. The wind blew for a few minutes while Sheppard stood watching Ali leave with his men.

  The woman hesitantly walked up to Sheppard with his back turned. She approached him and cou
ld only ask, “Why…?”

  “Why?” Sheppard responded.

  “Why did you do all of this…free my family and I? You could have sent me returning to my master…”

  “I’m following in the example of a great man. If we do not learn from our ancestors we would not be better people, would we?”

  “But you heard that man as clearly as I did; I harmed my master and escaped his bondage…”

  “What you did is wrong, I do not doubt that. And you know that what you have done is wrong, but go and do better.” Sheppard said, “I am not the one to judge you. God is. And he is oft merciful.”

  “And if I am of the Qurayza tribe, would that change your outlook?”

  He shook his head, “It does not matter what tribe you descend from in this world, we are all one under God. What was done to your tribe was a tragedy, I acknowledge that. But what if the Qurayza had defeated the Muslims then?” She did not respond. “What would have been their punishment for their transgressions against the Qurayza? Would not a similar fate have met them?”

  She nodded as he continued.

  “We live in a world of many cultures. And I regret that tribal laws of these lands still exist, we have tried to abolish them and have been successful for the most part, but traditions continue. Things such as honor killings among these Arabs are a relic of an earlier time, before this era of change. But such things are the way of the world, we must be the ones to ensure that our future is better than the past.”

  Her head hung low as he said those words, she no longer felt bound to her abusive slave-master’s will, but strangely she felt eternally indebted to this man.

  “Your family is going to be waiting for you soon.” Sheppard said as he summoned a camel from the stables. “This camel will take you and your family. We should make haste to Medina lest the slave-master reject my offer.”

  The camel walked up to the woman and kneeled at her side allowing her to mount. The saddle was already secured and ready to go, he must have woken up earlier than I thought.

  The camel rushed off into the distance after Sheppard, they were all headed toward Medina now.

  “I must say the amount you have given me is significantly more than needed, are these slaves the only things you desired to purchase from me?” The slave master recounted the payment.

  “Give the excess to the charity, if you wish it. Free more slaves, I have no need of it. I trust you will do the right thing with it.”

  Sheppard shook the man’s hand, “It has been a pleasure brother, thank you for your understanding.”

  “The woman was quite astute, but I would expect no less of the Qurayza, they are a proud people.” The trader said as Sheppard nodded. “Peace be with you brother.”

  Sheppard returned to the market square to greet Ali.

  “So brother Shep, what will you do now?” Ali asked.

  “The woman’s brother is trying to bribe my horse and camel to escape the city.” They both turned and saw the futile bribery ensuing. The horse grunted at the young man’s attempts.

  Ali could not help but laugh, “Brother Shep, you are one with the animals are you not?”

  Sheppard shrugged. “Did God not entrust men to the Earth? We are the caretakers, if we do not seek to be one with its creatures…we will be the losers in the end.”

  “My friend you are always full of wisdom,” Ali said while re-donning his greaves outside of the mosque, “the Caliph himself has received word of your deeds when I explained to him of my absence. He admires what you have done.”

  Sheppard laughed out loud, “Does he know who I am now? Well then I suppose we shall see one another on the Northern campaign.”

  Sheppard and Ali parted cordially, as long as Ali has been alive Sheppard had been there helping him grow. He felt attached to his oft distant mentor, but he knew there were secrets waiting to be revealed between them.

  “Ali, come by my home tonight after dusk.” Sheppard replied before they parted. “Before you leave these lands there are some things I must explain to you.”

  Ali accepted the offer before returning to his duties.

  Sheppard rejoined the woman’s family in the alleyway. Wearing his uniform and armor he received many ill-looks, especially from the woman’s brother.

  “You! Hand over your horse to us immediately!” He demanded.

  Sheppard smirked and pointed to his horse. The man about-faced to find the horse trotting toward him, grunting heavily with a fixed stare.

  The boy cowered against the wall. The horse’s muzzle was mere centimeters from his face, the animal stared him down causing the young woman to laugh at Sheppard.

  The mother of the family approached Sheppard and kneeled in front of him while holding onto his hand. “Thank you.” She repeated several times.

  Sheppard helped her up and told her she owed him nothing. He whistled at his horse calling it to his side. He playfully brushed the mare’s mane underneath her armor and whispered to it. The horse licked his face playfully, the family could only revere the man for the way the animals admired him as much as they did.

  “Come, where would you and your family like to be taken?” Sheppard asked.

  The young woman shook her head.

  “Yanbu al-Bahr.” The mother replied.

  Sheppard nodded and helped the family mount the camel. They then took off to the port city.

  The open deserts were unusually windy that day. They rode into the west chasing the sun to its resting place on the horizon.

  By the time they reached the port of Yanbu near the Red Sea, the sun was about to settle to dusk. The locals recognized Sheppard as a soldier of the Caliphate and refused to acknowledge his presence.

  These were the ancient Jewish tribes of Hejaz. Many had settled at this port temporarily before they were to wander the earth yet again.

  I pray they learn to forgive in time… Had Sheppard a say in their banishment it would have been temporary. But politically unstable times called for desperate measures.

  They were a proud people, the pagans and Muslims had known that for centuries, but the world was changing yet again and Sheppard only hoped it could be for the better.

  “Ya’qub!” The young woman’s mother called for a man from atop the camel. She flung her arms trying to get his attention.

  A man carrying wares from the wooden dock dropped his things and rushed over to Sheppard and his company.

  Sheppard stayed a moment to watch, not wanting to interrupt their reunion. His work was done. He covered his face and trotted away with his camel as the family dismounted.

  “When I heard the Qurayza were taken as slaves, I never heard from you again.” The man was their uncle. “I thought you had died or been taken as slaves, how is it that you are here?”

  The family looked at the daughter and she hesitated to answer, instead looking for Sheppard for answers.

  He left… The woman thought as they searched for him.

  “A great man freed us, a Muslim general.”

  “May God bless him for his deed,” The uncle replied, “Come, the other tribes are leaving this region as well. I am going with some of the others of the Aws to Jerusalem, we shall make haste.”

  The uncle led his sister and nephew deeper into the settlement while his niece stayed behind.

  Against all odds she knew Sheppard was still there.

  “Was there something you wished to ask me?” Sheppard said, approaching her just a few meters away.

  “So you are still here.” She replied.

  “My horse and camel needed water. I will be leaving shortly.”

  “Please, come say hello to my family, they wish to thank you for everything you’ve done.”

  Sheppard shook his head. “It is enough for me to know that you and your family are now safe.”

  “Come now, don’t be modest.” She pleaded.

  “My work here is done, you were wronged and now you are freed, as is your family.” He nodded at her and turned to leave.
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  She wanted him to stay, the man was a paragon. And he knew so much more than any other person alive. He was learned, altruistic, and humble. Being with him for so short a time she realized she may never again meet anyone as great as him again.

  “I…” She began, hesitating to ask, “to be honest, I know so little of you but you have done so much for me…I wish to know more.”

  He smirked at the reply, “Why may I ask?”

  “You seem almost other-worldly, you are not from these lands.”

  He shook his head, “You found me out.” He chuckled, “I was born somewhere in the lands to the West.”

  “Do you control djinn? How did your bath speak to me?”

  What is her obsession with my bath?

  “You don’t have to patronize me…Shep.” She had only heard his name once.

  “You remember my name.” He smirked and laughed hysterically, “You are quite an interesting woman I must admit.”

  She smiled, “My name is Debira.”

  Sheppard reached out to shake her hand and smiled warmly in return, “It is an honor to have met your acquaintance Debira. A proud name that is, after the ancient prophetess and judge of ancient Israel?”

  “You are well versed in the Jewish culture, I can tell. I saw the Torah scrolls in your home.”

  “And you are quite the judge of charactor? Finding your own evidence and reaching such bold conclusions.” They both laughed, she was living up to her name. “And yes, that was a copy written by ancient Hebrew scribes, I have kept it with me for quite some time.”

  “Why do you have them?”

  He hesitated to answer, but he knew her curiosity would not be sated otherwise. Strangely he felt like he could trust her. “I once walked with the kings of Israel and fought alongside the ancient Hebrews on several occasions. Your ancestors enthralled me, they were such a determined people that I still look up to them.”

  “You walked with the ancient kings?” He nodded and she laughed fitfully, now she could not believe him. “You knew King David?” She asked again. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Does… my talking bath not reveal anything about me?”