Qais

The story begins in 1956. There was an Arab man living with his family in a desert village. He was a very handsome and strong man named Qais. Qais was a powerful warrior with a high standing in his village. He had never lost a tribal war; he was always brave and strong. He lived in the Al Imran tribe. He was a Muslim from a Muslim tribe, and his tribe never allowed marriage outside the tribe; it was considered treason punishable by death.

Qais was 25 years old and had a younger brother named Yusuf, who was unable to walk. Yusuf was always in his room and only went out with Qais. Qais loved him dearly and cared for him deeply, even laughing and playing with his brother Yusuf. Yusuf was incredibly beautiful, almost frighteningly so, as if he had descended from heaven to earth. He was 14 years old and could read and write; he was cultured, unlike Qais, who had never known how to read or write in his life and had only ever fought.

Other tribes feared him greatly; he, his father, his grandfather Ali, and Qais himself were terrifying to them. But to ordinary people, he was very kind, even gentle and compassionate, despite not appearing so. He belonged to one of the richest and most powerful tribes in Saudi Arabia and Yemen; indeed, they were very wealthy. Qais intensely disliked foreigners and considered them unwelcome.