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has been living under.’
    ‘Inshallah, Uncle.’
    Yusuf removed the belt that held his sword and handed it to one of the guards. Another guard pushed the door open and waved them inside. ‘The Malik is in his study.’
    They found Nur ad-Din bent over his broad desk, lost in thought as he studied an architect’s rendering. The king had changed much in the six months since his defeat at Butaiha. His black hair was now peppered with grey, his once tanned face was sallow and he had dark circles under his eyes. Deep lines of worry creased his forehead. Nur ad-Din was not yet fifty, but he looked like an old man.
    ‘Malik,’ Gumushtagin said. ‘We have come at your bidding.’
    Nur ad-Din straightened. ‘Friends!’ Yusuf saw that the fire had returned to his bright, golden eyes. The king grinned, and his tired face seemed suddenly youthful again. He rounded the table and embraced first Shirkuh and then Yusuf. ‘I have a son! I have named him Al-Salih. Allah has blessed me! From this day, I shall redouble my efforts to serve Him. The great mosque shall be rebuilt, and I shall establish a madras in Aleppo, a school of learning greater than any the world has ever known.’
    ‘What of the war against the Franks?’ Shirkuh asked.
    Nur ad-Din’s expression darkened. ‘I have a score to settle with King Amalric. Come summer, I will strike the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the north.’
    ‘And Egypt?’ Yusuf asked. ‘What of Shawar’s offer?’
    ‘Egypt is not my concern. I need my men with me to fight the Franks.’
    ‘But my lord, we must do something,’ Yusuf insisted. ‘The Frankish king has allied with the current vizier, Dhirgam. Egypt pays Amalric tribute, money he will use to purchase mercenaries. By helping Shawar retake Egypt, you will weaken the Franks.’
    ‘And strengthen your own position, Malik,’ Gumushtagin added. Yusuf was surprised to find the eunuch on his side. ‘You would be overlord of Egypt.’
    Nur ad-Din’s brow furrowed as he considered their arguments. ‘Can this Shawar be trusted?’
    ‘He is my friend,’ Yusuf said. ‘His word is true.’
    ‘And what does the Egyptian caliph think of him, I wonder.’ Nur ad-Din went to the window, where he stood looking out for a long time. ‘I will let Allah decide,’ he said at last. He took a bound copy of the Quran from a bookshelf that lined the back wall of the room. He handed the book to Yusuf. ‘Open it.’
    ‘Where, Malik?’
    ‘Wherever your hand falls.’
    Yusuf placed a finger in the middle of the book and flipped it open.
    ‘Read,’ Nur ad-Din told him.
    Yusuf cleared his throat. ‘
And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, and if the faithful do not join together to make Islam victorious , there will be chaos and oppression on earth, and a great mischief and corruption
.’
    Shirkuh’s eyes widened, and he touched his nose with his right forefinger, indicating that the answer was right in front of him. ‘Allah has spoken, and his meaning is clear. He wants you to unite the faithful of Egypt and Syria. We must help Shawar.’
    ‘There is no denying the meaning of the passage,’ Gumushtagin agreed.
    Nur ad-Din nodded. ‘Very well. Shirkuh, you will go to Egypt and place this Shawar back on the vizier’s throne.’
    Shirkuh touched his palm to his chest and bowed. ‘As you wish, Malik.’
    ‘I will go, too,’ Yusuf said.
    ‘No, Saladin. I need you here to help prepare my campaign against the Franks.’
    Yusuf’s chest tightened at the thought of another year in Aleppo. ‘I am a warrior, Malik. I best serve you on the field of battle. Once Egypt is ours, I will return for your campaign against the Franks.’
    Nur ad-Din sighed. ‘As you wish. At least I can count on Gumushtagin to stay and advise me.’ The eunuch bowed. Nur ad-Din looked back to Shirkuh. ‘You will gather your army at Damascus and ride from there to Egypt. Do not fail me. I cannot afford another defeat.’
    ‘I will not fail, Malik. I will