The Map of Salt and Stars

When Roger II’s heir, William, proves to be a weak and decadent ruler, the Sicilian noblemen rise up against him. Al-Idrisi asserts loyalty to his old friend’s son, intending to help defend his kingdom. Meanwhile, Rawiya longs to return to her mother in Ceuta. Khaldun, whom she has now kissed, offers to follow her if she will marry him. At the time of the noblemen’s rebellion, they look for al-Idrisi in the king’s library. Al-Idrisi wants to take the weighty planisphere with them, but as they carry it away, armed men ambush them. Khaldun implores Rawiya and al-Idrisi to save themselves, and they are separated from him.

Nour and Zahra spend nearly a week in a smuggler’s home, as he gathers enough refugees for the journey to be profitable to him. Motivated by money rather than by any moral compass, the smuggler ousts a young family who can’t pay him. The sisters climb into his truck, and Esmat, the boy with his grandfather, travels with them. The smuggler strikes Esmat when he asks for water for his ailing grandfather. Just before the Algerian border, the smuggler expels them from his truck, saying they have to cross on foot.