Character Analysis
Asarta is the original magical lady who helped the Valley. She's the magician who—twenty generations before Tilja's time—was asked to seal off the Valley from the Imperial soldiers. A deserter from the Imperial army advised the people of the Valley to go to her for help (2.17), since she once humiliated the Emperor in front of his court (2.18-19). And though it took the Valley people forever to do it, they eventually sent out a delegation to her, of which only Reyel Ortahlson and Dirna Urlasdaughter made it (2.41).
By that time Asarta was old, but still as helpful as she could be. Check it out:
"Very well," she said. "I cannot in any case do what you ask. I have put that all aside. But I can tell you what you must do. First, you must wait here and watch what happens until I am gone, and then you must journey to the city of Talak and find a man called Faheel and ask him to help you. He will demand a fee and you will give him this ring. Keep it safe, and do not attempt to wear it. I trust you with it, because you have shown that you have the will to carry a task through." (2.50)
Asarta looms large as a legendary figure in the Valley's folklore, first in the magical line of legacy leading to Faheel and then the Ropemaker. She never appears after Tilja recounts the story, but she does make her legacy known, and Faheel notes that he tried to steal her ring many times. Even Tahl recalls that her reversal of time is similar to the way Meena and Alnor became younger.