‘We’ll wait and see what they do. I know that Shawar’s in
trouble. Most Egyptians don’t like it that he’s friendly with the
Franks. Everyone hates it when he gives Egyptian money to
Amalric because they know that he uses it to keep the Franks
fighting in the Holy Land. No Muslim wants this! Before long, all
the Egyptians will fight for us.’
At last, early one spring morning, Yusuf ran to his uncle. ‘Sir,
the enemy’s coming!’
The old general looked at his nephew. ‘Today, I want you to
do some real fighting, Yusuf. Take the group of soldiers in the
middle of my army. Make the Frankish knights think that you
and your men are weak and afraid. Turn and run. They’ll follow
with the hope of killing many of you, but I’ll take the rest of our
army around them. Then you’ll surprise them when you turn
round and fight!’
Yusuf was worried, ‘Will I do well? Will the men follow me and
do what I ask?’ But there were no problems. The plan worked!
King Amalric was lucky to get away safely, but Syrian swords
and arrows killed many of his knights. It was a great victory for
Nuradin’s men, but Shirkuh knew that he was not safe.