Tree of Pearls, Queen of Egypt

Contents

Contents Translator’s Note ix The Ayyubid Dynasty: A Historical Summary 1 The Garden Isle 3 Rukn al-Din Baybars 10 An Amorous Interlude 14 ‘Izz al-Din Aybak 17 Good Tidings 20 Sallafa and Sahban 25 The Coronation 32 The Engagement 37 An Important Visitor 46 The Caliph’s Messenger 51 The Caliph’s Decree 54 An Unexpected Demand 59 Rukn al-Din and Tree of Pearls 64 A Secret Conversation 70 Shwaykar 76 Revenge 80 Another Messenger 85 Rukn al-Din and Sallafa 87 The Departure 92 Baghdad 94 The Palaces of Baghdad 96 Mu’ayyid al-Din Ibn al-Alqami 99 Uproar 105 viii | contents Al-Musta‘sim 110 Ahmad, Son of Al-Musta‘sim 116 Shwaykar 119 The Dervish 125 A New Guest 131 The Message 135 Arrogance 138 The Accusation 141 A Father’s Love 147 Shwaykar in the Women’s Quarters 153 The Subterfuge 160 A Newcomer 164 The Tatars 170 ‘Abid 174 Rukn al-Din and Sahban 177 An Important Message 180 The Meeting 182 At the Palace of the Crown 186 The Truth 191 Tree of Pearls and ‘Izz al-Din 197 The Imam Ahmad’s Palace 201 Discovery 209 Pandemonium 212 Epilogue 217 Tree of Pearls: An Afterword 218 ...