Fezana on the Day of the Moat。〃
On their way of a midwinter morning to their booth in the market； Jehane and Velaz were abducted so smoothly that no one in the street around them was even aware of what was happening。
It was a grey day； sliding clouds； lighter and darker。 Wind and some rain。 Two men came up to them； one begged a moment of her attention。 Even as he spoke a knife was against her ribs； screened by his body and fur…lined cloak。
〃Your servant dies if you open your mouth；〃 he said pleasantly。 〃You die if he does。〃 She looked quickly over： Velaz was engaged in identical circumstances by the second man。 They appeared； to anyone casually glancing at them； to be doing no more than converse。
〃Thank you； doctor；〃 the man beside her said loudly。 〃The rooms are just this way。 We are most grateful。〃
She went where he guided her。 The knife pricked her skin as they moved。 Velaz had gone white； she saw。 She knew it was rage； not fear。 There was something about these men； a quality of assurance； that made her believe they would kill； even in a public place。
They came to a door； opened it with a heavy key； entered。 The second man locked it behind them with one hand。 The other hand held the knife against Velaz。 She saw him drop the key into a purse at his belt。
They were in a courtyard。 It was empty。 The windows of the house beyond were shuttered。 There was a fountain basin full of dead leaves； empty of water。 The statue in the center had lost its head and one arm。 The courtyard looked as if it had not been used for a long time。 She had passed this doorway a score of mornings。 How did a place such as this bee the setting for what might be the end of one's life？
She said； keeping her voice as firm as she could manage； 〃You invite death and you must know it。 I am a court physician to King Badir。〃
〃Now that is a relief；〃 said the first man。 〃If you were not； we might have had a problem。〃
He had a dry； precise voice。 No accent she could identify。 He was Asharite； a merchant； or dressed like one。 They both were。 Their clothing was expensive。 One of them wore a fragrant perfume。 Their hands and nails were clean。 These were no tavern louts； or if they were； someone had been at pains to conceal the fact。 Jehane drew a deep breath； her mouth was dry。 She could feel her legs beginning to tremble。 She hoped they could not see that。 She said nothing； waiting。 Then she noticed blood on Velaz's tunic； where his own cloak fell away； and her trembling abruptly stopped。
The second man； taller and broader than the first； said calmly； 〃We are going to bind and gag your servant and leave him in this place。 His clothing will be removed。 No one ever es here。 Look around if you wish to satisfy yourself of that。 No one knows where he is。 He will die of exposure if we do not return to release him。 Do you understand what I am saying to you？〃
Jehane stared at him； contempt in her eyes disguising fear。 She made no reply。 The man looked briefly amused； she saw the muscles in his forearm flex； just before the knife moved。 Velaz made a small； involuntary sound。 There was a real wound now； not a cut。
〃If he asks a question you had best answer it；〃 the first man said mildly。 〃He has an easily affronted nature。〃
〃I understand you；〃 Jehane said； through her teeth。
〃Excellent；〃 the bigger man murmured。 With a sudden motion he ripped off Velaz's blue cloak and dropped it on the ground。 〃Remove your clothes；〃 he said。 〃All of them。〃 Velaz hesitated； looking at Jehane。
〃We have other ways of doing what we are here to do；〃 the first man said briskly to Velaz； 〃even if we have to kill you both。 It will cause us no distress to do so。 Believe me in this。 Take your clothes off； you disgusting Kindath offal。 Do it now。〃 The savage insult was the more chilling for the utterly calm tone in which it was spoken。
Jehane thought then of Sorenica。 Of those who had died there at autumn's end： burned； decapitated； babies cut in half by the sword。 There had been more stories after that first messenger； each one worse than the one before。 Did two more deaths matter？ Could the god and his sisters possibly care？
Velaz began to disrobe。 His face was expressionless now。 The second man moved a few steps away to the far side of the fountain basin and retrieved a coil of rope and a square of heavy cloth。 It started to rain again。 It was very cold。 Jehane began trying to calculate how long a man could survive； lying naked and bound here。
〃What is it you want of me？〃 she asked； against her will。 She was afraid now。
〃Patience； doctor。〃 Her captor's voice was bland； the knife never left her ribs。 〃Let us deal with your surety first。〃
They did so。 Velaz was not even allowed his undergarments。 Utterly naked； looking small and old in the damp grey chill； he was trussed hand and foot。 A cloth was tied tightly about his mouth。 Then the bigger man lifted him and dropped him into the fountain basin。 Jehane winced。 The wet stone would be as ice on his exposed flesh。 Velaz had not said a word； of protest or appeal。 He was unable to do so now。 He lay on his back； helpless； his eyes were on hers； though； and what she saw still was a burning anger； not fear。
He was indomitable； he always had been。 His courage gave her back her own。
〃Once more；〃 she said； moving a deliberate step away from the knife。 〃What is it you want？〃 The man did not follow her。 He seemed indifferent to her defiance。
He said calmly； 〃It is our understanding that as physician to the court you know where the two sons of the Lady Zabira are lodged。 This has proven to be difficult information to obtain。 You will take us to that place and gain us admission。 You will remain with us for a time there； and then you are free to return here and release your servant。〃
〃You expect me to simply walk you into that place？〃
The second man had turned away again。 From another large satchel he began removing items of clothing。 Two white tunics； two blue robes fringed in white； two small soft blue caps。
Jehane began to understand。
〃We are your kindred； dear lady。 Physicians of your own faith from Fezana； e to study with you。 We have too little knowledge in the diseases of children； alas； and you are widely known for such expertise。 The two boys are past due for a routine examination。 You will take us there； introduce us as doctors you know； and bring us into their presence。 That is all。〃
〃And what will happen？〃
The second man smiled from by the fountain； he was donning the white and blue Kindath garments。 〃Is that a question you really want answered？〃
Which was； of course； an answer。
〃No；〃 she said。 〃I will not do it。〃
〃I am sorry to hear that；〃 the first man said； undisturbed。 〃Personally I do not like gelding men； even when provoked。 Nonetheless； you will note that your servant is securely gagged。 When we cut off his organs of sex he will naturally try to scream。 No one will hear him。〃
Jehane tried to breathe normally。 Sorenica。 They would have done this in Sorenica。 〃And if I scream now？〃 she asked； more to gain time than anything else。
Nothing seemed to perturb them。 The one by the fountain was fully garbed as a Kindath now； the first one removed his fur…trimmed robe； preparing to do the same。
He said； 〃There is a locked door here and a high wall。 You will have noted these things。 You would both be dead and we would be out through the house and a back passageway and lost in the city long before anyone broke through that door to find a castrated man and a dead woman with her intestines spilling out。 Really； doctor； I had hoped you would not be foolish about this。〃
Inwardly then； and quite unfairly； Jehane began to curse all the men she knew here in Ragosa。 Mazur。 Ammar。 Rodrigo。 Alvar and Husari。 With so much prowess surrounding her； how had this e to be？
The answer； of course； was her own insisted…upon independence； and their willingness to grant her that…which is what made the cursing unfair。 Under the circumstances； she decided； fairness didn't matter in the least： one of them； somehow； ought to have been here to prevent this。
〃Why do you want the children？〃 she a