Rob writes:
Mike, here are some clarifications:
(1) Margaret May is Alanus's 'common-law wife.' She followed him south to get a look at the medical texts of Trotula and others found in the libraries of the Italian city-states.
(2) 'Saracen' is the generic term in Old French and Middle English for any sort of Arab or Muslim.
(3) Alanus hasn't been any farther east than Arabia and Baghdad. He came south to look into Saracen magics. He's too crusty to have made a good Marco Polo or Sindbad.
And Pete adds:
'Saracen' is the general term the Christian Europeans had for muslim arabs. At least from the 8th to 10th centuries, the 'Saracen' border region extended from Western Africa to the Middle East and Turkey, and points further east. Their inroads into western europe were mainly Spain up to the Pyrranees, and sacking Rome, which was the thing to do at that time.
Marco Polo was the man. For the game, having some far eastern mage would be cool.