Chapter 39
Early 1062 (year 454 from Hegira) Balarm.
Ibn al-Thumna continued unchallenged the work that had begun with the help of Roberto and Roger, now raiding the territories controlled by Ali and now occupying new villages on which to impose the tribute. When Roger landed in 1062, he arranged to meet with Mohammed on the road to Catania. The powerful Qā'id brought with him, in addition to the army, numerous gifts: gold, silver, precious robes and Saracen house cleaners. The latter were girls stolen from the families of the iqlīm of Mazara and destined to serve the noblewomen of Europe. In Judith’s case, the Count's wife.
It was then that, thanking him for that wedding gift, Roger asked his main ally:
«You came to ask me for help; well today you are the most powerful lord of Sicily!
