Chapter 18
Early 1061 (year 452 from Hegira), encampment of Ali ibn al-Ḥawwās
The knights of the Qā'id advanced in reconnaissance in search of the enemy garrisons that still reeled in the retreat. The bulk of the infantry, those who did not have a horse, followed them forming a long procession. Now, having entered the great plain that borders Catania, Ali's soldiers marched through the marshes with mud up to their knees; Umar was between them and Idris and Mezyan accompanied him, never having separated for a moment from the master they had served for years. Of course, among the soldiers nobody knew that their Qā'id had used the same stratagem as Mohammed exchanging Maimuna with another woman, and therefore they still believed they were fighting for the honor of the Emir's sister and wife
