Rujari looked at him and for the first time their eyes met. Rujari nodded and turned away quickly. ‘I thank you, gracious Sultan. You more than anyone else present here — and I do not see our friend Master Idrisi in this gathering for which I thank him — understand full well that the reason you and your noble father were able to resist the commands of the Popes in Rome was because, even after the conquest of Siqilliya and the handing over of the most fertile estates to your Barons and the Lombard barbarians from the North, even after all that, my people are still a majority on this island. That is why your Barons speak and understand my language. And that is why you and you father could resist papal demands to send soldiers to fight in the Crusades. We were your strength, we gave you the courage to be independent, our learning, our language, our culture enabled you to boast that you were superior in every way to your poor cousins in England, which was only the truth.
‘Living under an occupation is never easy, but your family made it less painful because you needed us for your own reasons. And we needed you to survive. If you destroy us — and forgive my boldness… but we all know that the decision to burn me is a victory for those who would like to burn every Believer on this island, if you destroy us you destroy yourselves. One, perhaps two, Hautevilles might reign as kings. Then your fellow religionists will sweep southwards and take what they believe belongs to them by papal right. At that time there will be no force left here to defend your family. As for these unfortunate eunuchs you have imprisoned with me, they are completely innocent. Their only crime is that they worked with me, but then so did the Sultan for many years. To punish them is base and unworthy and I would plead for mercy on their behalf. Spare their lives. You have mine. Your monks and Bishops wish to consign me to Hell. But Allah alone will decide.’
As he stepped back and bowed half-ironically to the Sultan, the Amir of Catania could not contain himself. He rose from his bench. ‘Allah will send you to heaven, Philip al-Mahdia. Allah akbar.’
Angered by this display of insubordination, Rujari rose from the throne and still refusing to look his old friend in the eye he addressed the court. ‘Most distinguished sirs who sit in judgement today, my words are for you. My soul is pierced by the greatest grief, and roused to passion by severe torments, because this minister of mine, whom I raised from boyhood so that, having been purged of his sins, the Saracen might become Christian, is yet a Saracen and, under the name of faith, has done deeds of faithlessness. Had he offended our majesty in other ways, had he carried off a greater part of our treasure, we would have forgiven him because he had done great service for us. But because he has offended God and has furnished others with the opportunity and the precedent of sinning, and because I should not forgive an injury to our faith and a crime against the Christian religion by my own son, nor should I acquit anyone else. In this act let the whole world learn that I love the Christian faith with absolute constancy and do not refrain from avenging any injury to it, even by my own ministers. For this reason are laws set up and for this reason our laws are armed with the sword of fairness; they wound the enemy of the faith with the sword of justice, and thus they set a terrible snare for the infidels. Most distinguished sirs, you who are here to judge this crime, do your duty.’
The Barons clanged their swords to show approval of their king. Rujari, exhausted, slumped on the throne. The Barons, justiciars and judges did not take too long in their deliberations.
‘We decree that Philip, a traitor to the name of Christian, and an agent of the works of faithlessness under the disguise of faith, shall be consumed by the vengeful flames, so that he who would not have the warmth of love shall feel the fire that burns, and so that no trace shall remain of this worst of men, but that, having been turned to ashes by an earthly fire, he may proceed to perpetual torment in the eternal flames. His fellow-conspirators in evil are also sentenced to death but by normal methods.’
The Amirs and the Muslim notables did not stay to watch the Christians savour their triumph. As soon as the Sultan limped out of the chamber, they left the hall and the palace. A loud wailing could be heard in a section of the palace as they made their way into the streets. To their astonishment these were empty. The people of Palermo, even the Nazarenes, had no desire to witness the fallen Philip dragged through the streets in ignominy. Before they parted the Amir of Catania took them aside and said: ‘They have declared war on us. And I, for one, will not willingly become a headless chicken. We will fight in Catania. We will not surrender and become their slaves or be killed without a struggle. All of you will make your own choices, but I hope you listened carefully to Rujari’s words. It is the end of Siqilliya as we have known it. My friends from Qurlun, your choice is very clear. Either you fight with us or convert now to their faith and turn your mosques into churches. Do not wait for them to do it. In that way you might save your lives, if not your property. I do not know if we will meet again. Peace be upon you and may Allah protect you all.’
A noble from Qurlun restrained his departure. ‘Before you leave, give me your advice. Is there any way we could save our property as well as our lives?’
‘Perhaps by offering the Barons half of what you own tomorrow and your daughters the day after. But don’t delay too long. And one more word of advice. You Qurlunis are so inbred that you think you’re cleverer than everyone else and that your secrets remain safe within your community. You saw what happened to Philip. If you convert, do it properly and don’t meet in secret to pray and fast or circumcise your boys. Learn to worship the bleeding man on the wooden cross and the mother who remained a virgin after his birth.’
The Amirs of Catania and Siracusa walked away together, both enraged by Rujari’s speech and the verdict.
‘I hope Rujari dies soon, freeing us from our oaths of loyalty. Our presence here is now under serious threat. Our culture is tottering and if we do not act it will fall.’ It was the first time the Siracusan had spoken that day.
‘I think his speech has freed us already. Idrisi’s messenger told me that the Trusted One will instruct his followers to capture three monasteries the minute they receive the verdict on Philip. I think the lighthouses will be busy today. My ship is ready to sail. Are you accompanying me or did you bring your own vessel?’
‘I did and will sail later today.’
The two men embraced and went their separate ways.
Inside the palace walls, Philip was handed to the justiciars, who removed his chains and tied him to the hooves of wild horses. The horses had to be restrained as they reached the gates. Every palace window was crowded with people. They watched in horror and it was later reported that young William, the only remaining legitimate son of Rujari, had tears in his eyes. He had been exceptionally close to the condemned man. Philip had taught him astronomy. The Barons and monks and their retainers stood behind the horses to follow the victim to his death. Outside only a few monks and Nazarenes watched, but less than a hundred in all, and this in a city of three hundred thousand people. There were reports that the mosques and synagogues were overfull that day as special prayers were said to honour Philip. The qadi was seen hurrying in the direction of Ayn al-Shifa to try and contain the hotheads.
The palace gates were opened. The grotesque procession moved forward. Philip’s limbs were bleeding, but he held his face high even as he was being violently dragged and some of those who had come to watch turned away. A lime-kiln close to the palace had been prepared and a fire had been blazing even before the trial had begun. The justiciars untied the man who was covered in blood. They lifted him above their shoulders and hurled him into the flames.