ira, flared up behind him, sending a thrill up his spine. The little
mounted Muslim band had kept pace with the Sons of the Falcon.

He and the Sons of the Falcon had reached the midpoint of the valley.
Benevento behind him and Charles's camp ahead were equally distant. In
both directions the sights were the same--horsemen flailing at each
other with swords and axes and maces, crossbowmen and pikemen struggling
among the horses' legs. Few arrows flew now, because an archer was as
likely as not to hit someone on his own side.

Daoud narrowed his eyes. He saw again at the north end of the valley the
brown hill, a bit higher than any near it, the cluster of men on
horseback.

Sunlight glittered on a helmet adorned with a crown.

He felt suddenly lifted up. He wanted to laugh aloud.

_Lord of the worlds! You have shown me the way!_

With one blow they could end the battle.

"Omar!"

His second in command rode to his side, white teeth shining in his thick
black beard.

Daoud pointed up the valley. "Do you see that red and black banner and
that group of knights under it? Do you see a gold crown shining on a
helmet? That is Charles d'Anjou, he who would steal our lord Manfred's
throne."

"I see him, Emir Daoud. May God send him to the fire whose fuel is men
and stones."

"May we be permitted to help God send Charles d'Anjou to that fire.
There is nothing between him and us but men fighting one another and a
line of foot soldiers we can sweep away with our arrows."

"I see, My Lord. I see."

"Pass the order to charge. Charge at the red and black banner."

"Gladly, My Lord. Death to Charles d'Anjou!"

The blue flags, signal for a charge, rose and waved over the Sons of the
Falcon. Daoud felt the tension build in the men riding beside him. He
unslung his double-curved Turkish bow and held it high for all his men
to see.

The naqeeb who carried the banner rode out before them, holding up the
green silk with its verse from the Koran.

"Yah l'Allah!" Daoud shouted. He put all his strength, all his will,
into the cry.

His men took it up.

"Yah l'Allah!"

"Allahu akbar!"

He brought the bow down to his side. The blue flags dipped. The
kettledrums rumbled and thundered to a crescendo. The trumpets blared.
He drove his heels hard into the Arabian's flanks. The horse catapulted
forward instantly, throwing Daoud back against his saddle.

He leaned into the cold wind, squinting his eyes against the rush of
a