Chapter 5
.
Aseir awoke to the strange sounds in the middle of the night. He knew what it likely was, thieves stealing his food. Aseir knew he needed this food, some to eat some to sell in the market, he couldn't allow anyone to steal from his farm. He quickly grabbed his sword and went to his basement, where he kept the apples, and sure enough there the thieves were. Jihlem and Share, and someone that Aseir did not expect. Their newborn daughter Tifre. It was then that Aseir remembered, it was the end of the harvest, when the Harpers came and stole newborn children. It wasn't hard to figure out that these two had desperately fled to protect their baby. Aseir didn't want to turn them in, or hurt them, but he also didn't want to risk the wrath of the Harpers.
.
Jihlem: I am sorry we stoe from you, but we are desperate.
Aseir: So am I. I cannot afford to give away food.
Jihlem: We have no money to pay you.
Aseir: I'll make you a deal, you work in my field for one week, and I'll give you enough food to get to Mystera.
Jihlem: And if the Harpers come here?
Aseir: I'll say I never saw you. At my age, I have less reason to fear their wrath. My children and grandchildren were never taken, but I didn't speak up when they came for others' children.
Jihlem: Thank you.
Aseir: Don't thank me yet, I expect you to work hard for this food.
.
Jihlem soon found out that Aseir wasn't exxagerating when he said he expected him to work hard. Still, he was helping to protect them, so why complain. But Jihlem and Share wondered, what would Aseir do if the Harpers questioned him? It seemed unlikely that he wanted to draw attention to the fact that he helped shelter these refugees. But if the Harpers questioned him, would he be able to keep it up? There was only one way to know for certain, and none of them were eager to find out. On the fifth day Jihlem heard the horses coming. Aseir claimed to hear nothing, but perhaps his hearing was merely failing him at the moment. Jihlem ran to the house and quickly told Share to bring Tifre to the basement with him. He hoped that, if it was indeed the Harpers, that they wouldn't come looking here. But if Tifre made too much noise, all was lost. They could see Dax and the leader of the Harpers talking to Aseir.
.
Dax: We are looking for two runaways. They stole a baby who was determined for service to the Harpers. Do you have any word of this?
Aseir: Perhaps, I am not certain.
Dax: I see. Would your memory be more clear with, compensation?
Aseir: No. What I mean is that, five nights ago, I heard noises in the middle of the night. I assumed it was some thieves, but I was too scared to investigate. Some of these thieves can be pretty desperate, and desperate people are dangerous. Sure enough the next morning some of my food was missing from my basement. I never saw the thieves and I can't say for certain they were the same thieves you're looking for.
Dax: Any idea where they would be going?
Aseir: I assume to Mystera, or maybe Darokin. But I couldn't begin to speculate what route they'd take.
Harper: Thank you, we will remember your cooperation.
.
After the Harpers left Aseir came to let Jihlem and Share know they were safe. Jihlem worked for him another three days, but he knew there was no way he could fully thank this man for all he had done for his family. When Jihlem and Share left with Tifre, they almost considered Aseir to be like family. But they he coudn't protect them forever, it would even have been dangerous for him to allow them to stay, and they didn't want to put him in any more danger. To protect Tifre from that kind of life, they had to make it to Mystera.