While expertly appraising the finished and unfinished leathers in the yard he heard the crying child。 Informed of what was being done； the Kindath merchant loudly and profanely began slandering the parents of the girl and proceeded to stride into the tannery and lay hands upon the child…which was forbidden。 Ignoring protests； he carried her out from the healing place and into the chill of the spring air。
He was continuing to shout imprecations when ibn Shapur； observing his small daughter being dishonored and abducted by one of the Kindath…knowing that this evil people used children's blood in their foul rites； ran up and struck the merchant on the head from behind with a tanner's hook； killing him instantly。 It was mon agreement afterwards that ibn Shapur had never been considered a violent man。
The child fell to the ground； crying piteously。 Her father picked her up； accepted the grim congratulations of his fellows； and carried her back into the tannery。 For the rest of the day the Kindath merchant's body was left where it had fallen in the yard。 Flies gathered upon him in the sun。 Dogs came over and licked at his blood。
The child died； just before sunset。
The Kindath's touch had cursed her； the leather workers agreed； lingering after work； angrily discussing the matter in the yard。 She had been surely on the mend before that。 Children died when Kindath laid hands upon them； it was a fact。 A wadji arrived in the yard； no one later remembered who had summoned him。 When informed of what had transpired the pious man threw up his hands in horror。
Someone pointed out at about that point； echoing a verse widely posted and recited earlier in the year； that none of the Kindath had died in the Day of the Moat…not one。 Only good Asharites。 They are a poison in our midst； this same man cried。 They kill our children and our leaders； both。
The body of the slain merchant was dragged from the place where it had been lying。 It was mutilated and abused。 The wadji； watching； made no remonstration。 Someone had the idea of decapitating the dead man and throwing his corpse into the moat。 The head was cut off。 The crowd of tanners left their yard； carrying the body； and began proceeding towards the gate nearest the moat。
While crossing the city the leather workers…quite a number of them by then…came across two Kindath women buying shawls in Weavers' Lane late in the day。 It was the man who had recited the posted poem who struck one of them across the face。 The other woman had the temerity to strike him in return。
An unbeliever； a woman； laying hands upon one of Ashar's Star…born？ It was not to be endured。
Both women were bludgeoned to death in front of the shop where their purchases were still being wrapped。 The weaver quietly put the two shawls back under the counter and pocketed the money that had been tendered。 She then closed up shop for the day。 A very large crowd had now assembled。 After the briefest hesitation； the two women had their heads cut off。 No one could later remember clearly who had actually wielded the blades。
The angry crowd； growing larger all the time； began streaming towards the Gate of the Moat with three headless； bleeding Kindath bodies。
On the way there they met another； even larger； gathering。 This crowd was in the market square； almost filling it。 It was not a market day。
They had just heard tidings from the north。 Jaddites had been seen。 They were almost upon them。 An army from Valledo； ing to sack and burn Fezana。
Without any person ever voicing the specific suggestion…as best anyone could recall afterwards…the two crowds merged into one； and drew others to their mass； and they turned； together； in the hour before sunset and the rising of the white moon； towards the gates of the Kindath Quarter。
The governor of Fezana received advice of some sort of uprising among the tanners； and violence done； at almost the same moment that the long…feared word of Horsemen thundering south； already down through the tagra； also reached him。 He would have greatly preferred that these tidings remain his alone for a time； but this proved impossible。 A third messenger reported； immediately on the heels of the first two； that there was a mob gathered in the marketplace and that they had already heard the news from the north。
The governor thus had a number of decisions to make in rapid succession。 He sent two separate messengers immediately for Cartada and another to Lonza。 It had been agreed that part of the Lonza garrison would be diverted northwards to the slopes of the Tavares Range if a siege actually began at Fezana…they could partly forestall Jaddite raids south of the river。 Food for a besieging army； or the absence of it； was often the key to a siege。
The governor also sent an aide running for certain documents that had long since been prepared for him。 More than three years ago； in fact； Almalik I of Cartada； who had been a governor before he was a monarch （the thought was an enduring distraction）； had recorded with his generals and advisors some plans to be followed in the event of a siege of Fezana。 Consulting these written instructions； which had not been superseded； the governor noted with trepidation the boldest element of them。 He hesitated for a time； then elected to trust to the wisdom of the dead king。 Orders were given to the most senior Muwardi in the room。 The man's veiled face revealed nothing； of course。 He left immediately； to assemble the men required。
All of this； and other associated mands； took some little while。 As a consequence； by the time another messenger arrived to report that an extremely large number of people were now heading towards the Kindath Gates carrying torches； the governor was lagging uncharacteristically behind the sweep of events in his city。 The torches spurred him to action； though。 It was not yet dark； torches were not needed for light。 What was the good of defending against the Valledans if they burned down their own city？ Ashar and the stars knew he had no love for the Kindath； but if that Quarter was fired； the whole city could go up。 Wooden walls knew nothing of the boundaries of faith。 The governor ordered the mob dispersed。
It was the proper thing to do； and it could possibly have even been achieved； had the order e earlier。
Alvar never forgot that evening and night as long as he lived。
He would wake in terror from a dream that he was in Fezana again at sunset watching the mob approach。 That memory marked him and stayed with him as nothing in his life ever had and only one moment after…also at sunset…was ever to do。
They had arrived that afternoon； crowding in ahead of the Jaddite dust cloud with a frightened swarm of people from the countryside。 The five of them had raced all the way west from Ragosa across the hills and meadows of springtime。 They had left the day after Carnival； immediately after burying Velaz with Kindath rites and the slain soldier in a Jaddite ceremony。
No time to mourn。 Ibn Khairan had made that clear based on what he had learned； and Jehane； wild with fear for her parents； could not have lingered。 They were out of Ragosa by mid…afternoon： Alvar； Husari； Jehane； ibn Khairan…and Rodrigo Belmonte。 All of them exhausted after the night just past； all aware that in the mood of this spring something monstrous could happen。
They made the ten days' journey in six； riding into the darkness； arriving late one afternoon to a place where they could see the walls of Fezana。 They had already seen the dust cloud that was the army of Valledo。
It was Rodrigo who spotted it。 He had pointed； and then exchanged a long glance with ibn Khairan that Alvar could not interpret。 Jehane bit her lip； gazing north。 Husari said something under his breath that might have been a prayer。
For Alvar； despite weariness and anxiety； the sight of a cloud of dust stirred up by the Horsemen of Valledo in Al…Rassan stirred him deeply。 Then he looked again at Jehane and Husari and back to ibn Khairan； and confusion arose once more。 How did it happen that something one had desired all one's life became cause for doubt and apprehension？
〃They are moving very fast；〃 ibn K