Origin: Eternity's End

by Uneeb Qureshi

  Sheppard and Jo raised their cowls as the noon winds continued to ride into the settlement, there was a lake not too far from them where dozens of women and children gathered and played to pass the time. The settlement reminded him of his youth.

  “Sheppard?” Jo said.

  “Don’t mind me, I was in a rare moment of memory.” He looked into her eyes and smiled, “Jo. If you don’t mind me asking you, what do you live for?”

  “I live to serve you and the Immortal Empire, nothing more.”

  “Oh come on, no one can live in subservience for as long as you have. You have more power than most women in the Empire.”

  “A-And I thank you, but it’s what my mother would have wanted.”

  “That,” He said, “You live for your mother’s promise. That is your purpose in this life. Me? I have none, I was a bastard, an orphan, a nobody. I have no recollection of my past, a vague idea of the present, and almost no future seen ahead of me. I live to find out why you…they do what they do.”

  She glared at him in a confused look, “What we do?”

  “What is each person’s purpose?” He shrugged as if he had nothing more to say.

  Jo nodded and raised her leathery neck-guard above her nose to guard from the warm sands hitting her face.

  Sheppard laughed, “I’m just on another tangent.” She had heard many of those in her travels with him. He whispered to her, “How many years? How many years before we had decided what years were? Tens? Hundreds of thousands?”

  She did not know how to respond. He saw she was becoming insecure in the conversation and restrained himself, “I’m sorry, I get caught up in myself sometimes.”

  He wiped the sweat from his face and peered again into the large crowd that littered the tents. He saw a man silently twiddling his fingers. Upon closer inspection Sheppard saw he was holding a small immortal toy in his hand, he was the one they were looking for.

  “Stay here,” he told Jo as he strode swiftly away. Men around Jo were quick to gaze and signaled crude gestures. She sighed heavily and ignored their attempts to get her attention. How feeble minded men are.

  He kept up his guard and peered periodically at Jo.

  Sheppard eventually approached his target from behind and watched him inattentively as not to draw attention. The toy was a primitive mechanical contraption that resembled a man, the cog on the toy’s back wound allowing the legs to swing wildly forward in an amusing walk. The man laughed and gazed around him, eventually catching Sheppard’s attention.

  He immediately covered the toy with his hands and pretended it was not there.

  “Silly thing,” he could not stop stuttering, his gray beard and wrinkled appearance told Sheppard he had seen his fair share of seasons, “silly things.”

  Sheppard took a seat by him and tried to bring up the information he needed.

  “That was unusual. Where did you find it?” Sheppard smiled and tried to mirror the man’s posture to make him feel more comfortable.

  “Oh this thing,” the man spoke in a different dialect from this region but Sheppard could pick up the similarities, the man was obviously from the northern regions of the Western lands. “I picked it up from my travels,” the man said, “I am a collector of strange things you could say.”

  The man had no other belongings on him leading Sheppard to think he was staying somewhere else in this settlement.

  “May I see it?” Sheppard asked, the man obliged and told him to hide it from the others around him.

  Sheppard wound the toy and remembered. Solb had made these thousands of years ago. At first they made it for the children but the engineering applications were limitless.

  “I have seen things like these in the Western lands, near those whom time does not touch.”

  The old man peered at Sheppard curiously.

  “You know of those whom time does not touch?”

  “Intimately, I accompanied the mortal high chief that sought to destroy them not too long ago. Abominations all of them.” Sheppard hoped to open the man up.

  The man’s grin grew wider. He dropped the façade of a feeble old man. The man uncovered his wrists revealing a series of scars that seemed to create two letters. Aterian.

  The Aterians themselves were a devoted following bent on killing immortals. Though their origin was still a mystery to Sheppard, they perpetually ambushed immortal caravans for both sustenance and technology.

  “I am the leader of this region, I command hundreds of those bound to destroy those who scattered our people from our ancient lands. Who was your high chieftain?”

  “Anach of the West, patron to the Nile tribes.”

  “Ah a fine man, I had met him only once nearly twelve seasons ago. How fares he?”

  “Dead, an immortal found him and had slain him.”

  “Those inhuman bastards!”

  “His loss was not in vain, he had slain many of them before being felled in combat.”

  The Aterian was at ease, not many knew of Anach.

  “It is good to see he has left a well deserved prodigy.” The Aterian looked behind Sheppard and saw the young woman skulking in the shadows. She disappeared again but Sheppard caught a brief glimpse of her.

  “She was very fond of Anach you see, it would ease her to know that he died fighting these immortal jackals.”

  There was a moment of silence as Sheppard peered back and kept an eye on Jo.

  “I seek,” Sheppard began slowly, “I seek the location of the undying ones, wherever they may be. Anach’s last wish was that they should be slain elsewhere in the world before they were killed in their homelands. Lest they scatter like pests and seek retribution.”

  The Aterian laughed heartily, “Spoken like a true disciple of the great high-chief. What is your name young one?”

  “Drahpes. Drahpes of the West.”

  The man grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him heartily. The man noticed Sheppard’s robe, they were distinctly similar to Jo’s.

  “Who is that woman you came in with?”

  Sheppard glared at her in confusion before responding.

  “That woman is the immortal high priestess.” Sheppard added.

  The old man sat straighter, it was obviously the first time he had seen such a beautiful immortal woman. “Verily? Well friend, how about a friendly exchange, I shall take her off of your hands in exchange for taking my fresh recruits into the fields to confront these monsters. Either way you win my friend.”

  Sheppard’s heart began to beat faster. He had a chance to infiltrate their organization but at the cost of a dear friend.

  “How reliable is your information?” Sheppard asked.

  She can handle herself…she’s prepared… He told himself.

  “It is undeniably reliable,” the man responded. “We have had many successes to the islands west of here.”

  Islands…

  “Good, the priestess knows much. Especially of their battle movements, the priesthood is present at every battle and she is very knowledgeable of their leaders…” For a moment he felt he was betraying her, but he knew she could handle this.

  A new smile cut across the Aterian chieftain’s face, an opportunity had just fallen on him. He could take this immortal whore in his stead and rid himself of this wandering nobody.

  “I’ve a better idea. I shall take you to Armad himself and let him decide the men you take ahead. He is passing very soon and will no doubt give the scrip containing the locations of the immortal dogs in this region.”

  Sheppard’s heart raced, a chance to encounter their leadership like this rarely presented itself. He could tell something strange was happening, the situation had been suspiciously unraveling in his favor.

  He cautioned himself but at the moment he had little choice.

  As the Aterian chieftain sensed a slight hint of acceptance in Sheppard’s tone he felt eased in his seat of power.

  “I have one more question for you oh Great Drahpes of the West,” the man ask
ed, “Are immortal women truly whores as the rumors say?”

  Sheppard choked at the question, This is what they think of us…

  “Yes,” He responded, “especially the priestesses…it is customary that they lay with the immortal war chiefs for their blessing.”

  “Then a sign of…loyalty to your new men would not be excessive?” The chieftain turned his head and glared at Sheppard hoping for a positive sign of loyalty.

  “What would you have of me…?”

  He stammered at the request, “Ravage her, right here, before us all in honor of our victories over these jackals. Depose her as a false priestess. Though your merits of capturing her are well deserved, we require one final show of loyalty to the brotherhood.” The Aterian chieftain started to breathe heavily anticipating an affirmation.

  It was becoming too much for Sheppard, he looked back at Jo while keeping his composure. He pouted his lips tightly as he turned his back to the chieftain.

  Jo was confused at first at the gesture. It looked as if he was annoyed.

  Sheppard faced the captain again and spoke again in the immortal tongue, much to the chagrin of the captain.

  “I apologize,” Sheppard returned to the local dialect, “I was hoping I could convince her you were immortals as well so that this request could be…accommodated,” he hinted, “So that you may all partake…”

  The chieftain praised him for his accolades and assured him she would suffer a much worse fate in time.

  “Come,” the Aterian chieftain motioned to his men to follow, “let us see this immortal priestess whore herself to the others.”

  Sheppard was improvising too much of this plan, he was plotting behind his dearest friend’s back and it sickened him as much as it would sicken her.

  What’s your next move Sheppard…?

  He looked around and counted the men around him making sure he could keep track of them all. He returned to look at her warily.

  She was alarmed by the increasing detail surrounding Sheppard. She readied to grasp the blades concealed underneath her robes.

  What’s the meaning of this? She signalled.

  Sheppard nodded to the men and strode toward her grabbing her around the waist and back. He pushed her against the mammoth tusks jutting from the ground, forcing her to submit to him.

  His face was mere centimeters before hers as she tried to resist, but he held her tight. He turned his head toward her ears and began to breathe slowly down her neck.

  The men around him began grinning. Jo put her hands on his chest ready to push him back.

  “Do you trust me?” Sheppard whispered in her ears as he brushed against her neck.

  “Y-yes.” They spoke in the ancient immortal language as to not elicit any suspicion. She was growing scared.

  He glanced behind her and saw the open waters of a nearby lake.

  “How many do you see.” He asked her.

  Her breathing grew heavier as the rest of the men approached closer, many loosening their animal skin garments. “F-five including the man you were speaking to, and a myriad of what look like civilians.” She was getting more uncomfortable with his plan by the minute.

  He looked back and saw his camels ready to mount and ride.

  He pressed his hip against hers and reached into his belt and loosened the holster of his blades. Looking at one another, they could sense the other Aterian men behind them.

  He pressed his lips deep onto hers, and in his mind prayed to his long lost friend, her mother, for forgiveness. He raised Jo onto the table, arching her back before letting go slightly.

  “Watch my back.” He whispered.

  Sheppard shook the flourished two finely honed blades the length of his forearms. He held them behind her back and immediately let go of her.

  The blades masterfully sliced the throats of the two men standing right behind him. Sheppard recovered his fighting stance and advanced on the others.

  Several regulars to the outdoor tavern stood up and ran away in fear. Sheppard restrained himself, he would give the men one last chance to disperse before he took what he wanted, the Aterian chieftain.

  The Aterian stood in shock as he saw Sheppard half-kneeling to the ground with two swords drawn crossed in the air above his head.

  “You immortal abominations defile me! And my honor?”

  “When you said immortal women were whores, you immediately lost your honor with me.”

  Jo glared at the Aterian in anger. Sheppard reassured her and reminded her to keep her focus. She immediately unsheathed daggers from underneath her robes and pronated her wrists, keeping the blades at the ready.

  She spread her feet in preparation of any surprises.

  “Get them! Kill them all!” The chieftain shrieked, several mortals arose and charged the two immortals haphazardly.

  Sheppard confronted them. Jo stood behind him subduing the reinforcements from the rear.

  Their opponents’ primitive yet ornate stone maces were little match for the precision and swiftness of their light foil blades.

  Under stress, both of them summoned visual and motor reflexes potentiated at exorbitant levels. Time slowed almost eternally for them in combat.

  Sheppard used his extraordinary celerity to dance in the shadows, paralyzing them with fear.

  Nearly a dozen men fell as the winds picked up, but Sheppard remained stalwart and vigilant. With his back to the winds he could easily keep his advantage against his foes. He could only hope Jo was faring better.

  A man emerged to the left of Sheppard yelling curses in the mortal language while swinging his mace wildly.

  Sheppard did not flinch. He opened his eyes in time to parry the mace and countered with a swift cut, slicing the man’s hand cleanly through the bone. Amidst the prevailing thunder none could hear the blood curdling screams.

  The tent-like structure was sturdy enough to bear the gusts as the mammoth-bone pillars stuck firmly in the ground. The animal skin drape above them flapped wildly in the wind.

  In the distance, Jo clenched her blades tightly. She had rarely travelled with Sheppard on these trips but when she did it always ended in trouble.

  Sheppard immediately signaled for her to detain the chieftain before he escaped. Jo subdued the last of her opponents and sprinted across the sands toward the Aterian chieftain.

  She eventually was able to tackle him to the ground and gag him with a pungent rag from her pockets. With a quick crush grip she broke a vial inside of the rag releasing a potent anesthetic. The Aterian resisted vehemently but she eventually overpowered him.

  Sheppard in the meanwhile neutralized all of his attackers save for one, the man before him dropped to his knees begging for forgiveness.

  Jo watched Sheppard as he lowered his blades and offered the man help up. The man hesitated at first but took the offer. Sheppard glared at the man and spoke softly in the native dialect.

  “I’m not a monster nor are my people, remember that.” The man nodded vehemently. “Run along now, you are free to go.”

  Jo smiled contently, the day was not wholly a massacre. But her heart stopped as a figure emerged from the darkness.

  Sheppard caught the intruder’s presence and unsheathed his blades to meet daggers flying toward him. He quickly crossed his blades in front of his chest and was able to deflect the first few daggers, but he missed a thin blade and felt it pierce his chest.

  The bladed edge was so thin that it lodged just barely into Sheppard’s heart and left lung. A very small part of the exposed blade was visible outside of his chest, he attempted to move it but was slowly losing his strength.

  Using his pinky fingers he slowly pulled out the blade until his index finger and thumb could pull it out faster. He coughed up blood and attempted to resume his battle but his punctured lung slowed his efforts. He eventually collapsed onto his knees and controlled his breathing as not to collapse his lungs.

  The new attacker slowly became visible as the winds subsided. The large body of
water near the settlement began to patter against the heavy rain drops. All he could hear now was the rain falling.

  Sheppard eventually made out his new enemy. It was the young woman he had met earlier.

  She stood over him donning a leather battle-worn tunic and carrying a brittle wooden pole-arm. She could hear Jo’s screams across the settlement but paid no mind.

  She readied her blades just inches above his neck lowering herself to his side, she was going to savor this kill. She plunged the blades but was immediately tackled a good distance away from Sheppard by Jo. With renewed zeal Jo protected her friend, mentor, and commander.

  Sheppard hung his head lifelessly, barely breathing as his lung collapsed. Jo had never seen him struck so fatally. She subdued the attacker hoping she could buy him time to recover.

  Jo found the struggle much tougher than she thought. The woman was exceptionally strong.

  Her opponent eventually broke free of her restraints and swung her pole-arm in desperation. Jo grabbed the haft during a backswing and held the battle at a stalemate.

  Her opponent let her left hand free and quickly struck the wooden haft at the middle with the heel of her hand shattering the scythe into the two. The woman was now more lithe and able to strike at her whim.

  Jo raised her end of the haft and attempted to fend off the strikes.

  This weapon is too brittle, it’s going to break any second!

  Her opponent’s downswing immediately cracked Jo’s remaining haft into pieces leaving her unarmed yet again.

  Although Jo had a height advantage, the woman she fought was too quick at her height. Jo barely counter the low attacks. Jo bent down and in seconds quickly struck her opponent’s knee, sweeping her adversary to the ground.

  As the woman lay on her back she refused to give up. She unsheathed a serrated blade from beneath her toes, held only by the tip of her toes she quickly kicked upward nearly slitting Jo’s neck in the process.