King of the Wind

Agba is afraid of leaving Sham behind when he goes to Europe because he worries that another stableboy might mistreat him. The sultan gives specific instructions about how to measure the horses in the royal stables to ensure that only the finest specimens are sent to France. Signor Achmet confirms that Sham is the stable’s best bay and well-suited for racing. Feeling “[w]ild with excitement” (61), Sham kisses the white spot on the horse’s heel and rides him around in giddy circles.

The week before their departure for France, Agba exercises Sham, accustoms him to eating out of a nosebag, and takes him to a farrier to have his hooves shoed. The boy is so excited the night before his journey that he can hardly sleep.

The next morning, the sultan leads Signor Achmet and the stableboys in a royal procession to the city gates. As the parade passes through the marketplace, the driver who supplied Agba with camel’s milk rejoices at seeing the boy and Sham. The sultan gives each of the horses a silk bag containing its pedigree and protective amulets. He sends Signor Achmet and the stableboy’s forth on their mission: “Travel in safety so that the King and Monsieur le duc will thus bear witness to my greatness” (67).