Jasper of Moline

chapter five

The storm did come. and was grateful to have been in the tavern when it began, he made the beer last and kept his head down while he plotted and planned. 

how was he going to approach the king with the news he held? And also what was it with the dream he had had? was he to pay it any mind?

he tried to think about the princess of Brone, what had been her name? it was Hannah, wasn’t it? So was the girl in his dream the princess of Brone or had that been someone else?

If that was the girl, If that was truly the girl, it shook him that she would appear in his dream, in another time, in another place, a truly shocking event. A really humbling event. He wondered from time to time as he had from the beginning why God chose him. He knew, oh He knew God did what he wanted to, when he wanted to, how he wanted to, and surely that included using a mere man, an ordinary man. worthy, he didn’t consider himself worthy. Not now, No in the beginning, not even while he ran. especially not when he ran.

some noise at the back brought him out of his reverie, and he turned around to see what it was about. A woman stood amidst a group of men who sat with goofy grins on their face,

“ I don’t mean to be rude mister, but that’s highly inappropriate.” the woman calmly said, she struck Jasper as young, delicate and strong.

The men barked out laughter, while the one she addressed looked at, a malicious glint in his eyes. Jasper didn’t like the situation one bit. But he watched on, as a storm of his own brewed within.

The man- the one with the glint- got up and walked to the woman, grabbed her, and held her close to him, he wasn’t sure what he whispered into the woman’s ear, but he watched as alarm showed on her face and as she began to struggle for her release,

“ let me go! Let me go right now!” she shrieked, but he laughed and so did the men who he was sitting with, and those men cheered him on, the last thought that crossed Jasper’s mind was that the men were barbaric and were a disgrace to manhood he dropped his Jar of beer on the counter with some controlled anger and strode to where the commotion was. 

somethings- he thought- could not be ignored. Bullies were one of them.

“ I believe, the woman asked to be let go of.” Jasper said coolly. The harassing man looked at him, with a sneer,

“ I believe it will be right if you minded your business.” He loosened his grip on the woman, but still held her close, while he faced Jasper.

“ I’ll try this again, this time be wise. Let her go. Now.” he said the last past quietly, anticipated the man’s rage, matched it with a quiet rage of his own.

“ okay, that’s it.” He threw the woman aside, making her struggle to get her footing. And then went straight for Jasper’s face. Jasper caught his hand in his, and twisted it, making the other man yelp in pain. He turned him around and held him in a grip that had squeaking,

“ How about you pick on someone your own size?”  Jasper whispered into his ear.

Jasper looked at the others who watched on with terror, their leader had been immobilized, they were wise enough to stay back.

“ stay away from her.” whispered into his ear, and let him go. The man held his hurting hand in his hand, his back bent over.

“ This isn’t over.” He spat out, and left the tavern, Jasper looked again at the men who sat with him and they got up and fled. He nodded quietly. He would have to do something about the man’s threat. Not because he feared, but because he knew men like that would want to do something about being publicly disgraced, they wouldn’t consider the magnitude of their actions. With that in mind, He walked to the woman who sat in the corner and watched him with bulging eyes.

“ who are you?” she asked in a whisper.

“ Jasper of Moline.”

~~~

They'll come back." the young woman muttered from the corner where she sat on the floor, Jasoer crouched down in front of her, the customers watching, some talking in hushed tones. Jasper caught some of the words theysaid - who is he? so brave, barbaric  truants- but he tried to ignore them

" Do you live around here?" He asked the young girl, she nodded.

" Do trhose men bother you from time to time?" she nodded. 

yes, Jasper thought, he was going to have to do something about that man's threat and couldn't help but wonder if his interferrence had not made matters worse for the poor girl. But if hadn't done something, things could have escalated, he couldn't sit and watch that happen. he got up from his crouch and stretched out his hand toward her.

She took it and let him lead her to the counter.

" A word please." He said to the watchful bartender.