The books contain elements of historical fiction, being set in the time of the Crusades and covering events like the Battle of Hattin, and including historical figures such as the leper king of Jerusalem Baldwin IV, the Muslim leader Saladin, and the Hashshashin of Alamut.
In 1091, a group of Ismailis under the leadership of Hassan-i Sabbah sacked Basra and seized the fortress of Alamut.
According to the 17th-century historian, Iskandar Beg Munshi, 'Isa Khan was imprisoned together with another Georgian, Simon I of Kartli, at Alamut, and was liberated with him by Shah Ismail.
Leaving Tabriz, Mathurin and Khatib travel alongside a caravan as far as Qazvin, where ibn-Ibrahim receives gifts and an invitation to visit Alamut.