morning I learned the name of my guest. It was the great Zengi
himself! His army lost the battle the day before and all his soldiers
were dead or prisoners. He wanted to hurry back to Mosul to make
sure that the town was safe so I gave him new clothes and my best
horse. Riding away, he said, ‘I’ll never forget your help and will
always be a true friend to you and your family.’
‘What was the horse like, Father?’ asked Yusuf.
‘All you think about is horses, Yusuf,’ said Turan Shah.
‘He was the brother of the wind. It’s good to give with open
hands. Zengi has been our friend since then. I’m Governor of
Baalbek and we’re safe and comfortable here because of him.’
Damascus, Syria – 1152
‘Yusuf! You must come now. It’s time to go to school.’
‘Oh, Al-Adil, I don’t want to go! Look at my horse, Aneed! I
don’t know why Turan Shah says that he’s bad. He’s going to be
very good at polo. He always knows what to do!’
The boy of fourteen rode quickly up to the ball with the stick
in his hand. He hit it hard and sent it flying over to his brother.
Al-Adil stopped the ball with his foot.
‘Father says that you’re the best rider of all of us, Yusuf. That’s
why, when Turan Shah couldn’t do anything with Aneed,
Father gave the horse to you. But you must go to school or you’ll
be in terrible trouble. Don’t forget what Father said the last time
that you were late!’
Yusuf jumped down from his horse’s back and took him back
to the house. Then he ran as fast as he could for school.
The old teacher looked up angrily when Yusuf hurried into the