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tilled and sown。 Flowers bloomed in the gardens of Fezana and outside the walls。 There were melons and cherries in the market and on his table。 The governor was fond of melon。
Word came down through the tagra lands of a gathering of the three Jaddite kings in Carcasia。
This was not a good thing； by any measure。 He relayed the information to Cartada。 Almost immediately afterwards； further tidings came that the gathering had ended in violence； after an attempt on the life of either the king or queen or perhaps the constable of Valledo。
Information from the north was seldom clear； sometimes it was almost useless。 This was no exception。 The governor didn't know who； if anyone； had been injured or killed； or who was behind it。 He passed this word along as well； however； for what it was worth。
He received swift messages back from Cartada： continue work on the walls； store up food and drink。 Keep the wadjis happy and the Muwardis in good order。 Post watchmen near the tagra lands。 Be endlessly vigilant； in the name of Ashar and the kingdom。
None of this was reassuring。 He did all of these things petently in an increasingly nervous city。 The governor discovered that he wasn't enjoying his melon in the morning as much as he was wont to do。 His stomach seemed to be vexing him。
Then the child died in the tannery。
And that very day came word that the Valledan army had been seen。 South of the tagra lands； in Al…Rassan； banners flying。
An army。 A very large army； ing swiftly。 For the first time in hundreds of years the Horsemen of Jad were riding towards his city。 It was folly； the governor thought agitatedly。 Sheerest folly！ What was King Ramiro doing？
And what could a prudent； diligent civil servant do when the kings of the world went mad？
Or when his own people did； that same day？
Sometimes events in far…distant places speak with a single voice of a changed mood； a turning of the world towards darkness or light。 It was remembered long years afterwards that the Kindath massacres in Sorenica and Fezana occurred within half a year of each other。 One was achieved by Jaddite soldiers wild with boredom； the other by Asharite citizens in a frenzy of fear。 The effects were not dissimilar。
In Fezana it began with a child's fever。 The daughter of a tanner； one ibn Shapur； contracted an illness that spring。 The poorer laborers lived nearest to the river and in the flooding season sickness was mon； especially among children and the aged。
The child's parents； unable or unwilling to pay for the services of a physician； utilized instead the ancient remedy of placing her on a pallet in the tannery itself。 The noxious fumes were thought to drive away the evil presence of illness。 It was a healing that had been in use for centuries。
It so happened that day that a Kindath merchant； ben Mores by name； was at the tannery buying hides for export to the east by way of Salos then down the coast and through the straits。
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 tw