The Nubian campaign went well for me in several respects. Not least, for the mighty displays of sorcery and terrible weapons unleashed, was the favour of the Pharoah and first pick of the tomes in place of demanding gold or slaves. To be sure, I was in many ways a mercenary, but one with priorities in some respects. That and I'd leave the conventional riches to the others, so there would be less grumbling when I grabbed that which actually mattered to me. No, the greatest reward from the entire campaign was a marriage with a royal bride in a not so subtle effort to bind me closer to the throne.
Which as I had not given overmuch indication that I intended to stay overlong, I had hoped that the fact I established a group to teach and work inside some of the existing boundaries and power structures at the very least eased some concerns. That I was at the least going to play according to some of the rules. But, as the woman ran her fingers into mine, a shy smile on her face... well, honestly? Even with the extensive contracts involved, the fact that I would be expected to visit more social events... it was probably worth it, even if I would not mind remaining the foreign wizard and largely an outsider.
But, I was part of the dynasty now, and would be expected to play my part in politics. In some ways, Nailah was a means to an end in some respects, or at least... well, I am not an overly romantic soul and could not offer a princess much, even as... well I had the Blood Cult, a shell of a home, a library and what was becoming the first steelworks in the world. In no small part because such a thing was to be kept inside the royal family, hence the marriage... which occurred at the same time as the party, rather than being the reason.
Such was life in this land, and far be it from me to dispute that, as she seemed happy with it. And if she was not going to complain about it? I was not going to. Though, to be honest? There was something about seeing if I could guide her on the steps of the Sanguine Aspirant. Mostly because I was unsure how long it would take me to reach the final levels, to finally get the ability to 'sire' new revenants by my own bloody right. But, that was perhaps something to consider later, In the meantime, there were more important things to take care of.
Were her marriage and position in the Blood Cult any less prominent, there is no doubt that Nailah would have been just another princess of the early Egyptian dynasties, and likely doomed to obscurity. Instead, she is the chief wife of Matgrim The Blood Lord and the first Keeper of the Scrolls of the Blood Cult. Of course, even as one of the oldest practitioners of blood magic, second only to her husband, the majority of her fame comes from her children, the first recorded instances of the Golden Ones, the blood of Ra. And chief among them would be her daughter Ra-ka-mat, chief wife to Khafre, whose son Rua cemented the fourth dynasties five hundred year rule.
Some would say that Rua marked the start of a fifth Dynasty, of the rise of the Sun Kings. And it is true, that the majority of the nobility and royalty of the Africa, the Levant, and Anatolia would eventually come from her children's bloodlines, a golden legacy that has seen her worshiped as a mother goddess common to widely separated (both geographically and across time) cultures.
Still, the dynasties which claimed direct descent from her lasted until the Hyskos invasions almost a thousand years after her marriage, and her bloodlines remain strong even in the modern day throughout a large portion of the world. While she never held a throne directly, there is no denying that she was one of the most powerful women that emerged from the Old Kingdom, and if you study magic, many of the spells commonly used by the Blood Cult and its eventual successors would have been developed by her.
While her tomb has never been discovered, expeditions are still launched each year, hoping to discover more of the Matriarch of Blood and Gold.
You know, marriage changes ones perspective. Particularly when you are coming up on your first century anniversary. Sure, I had not been expecting things to change that much, but considering the fact that I had bene introducing magic, even if just blood magic until recently, and the tools for science and understanding along with the handful of devices? See, they were not exactly stupid and could make advances in their own right without me telling them what to do.
Sure, some things made more sense to me, and due to the power of the throne some things were suppressed and kept in 'the right hands.' Power was always concentrated to a degree, but with actual supernatural power... well, aspects would spread regardless of what anyone would do. But, it was likely time that I left. There were a few that could handle being in charge of the blood cult for a period of time,, and I already had the original books of rituals and copies of all the ones that the cult helped make.
But, as Nailah and I sank fangs into the moaning concubine? Sometimes it was just important to share a meal with the wife, rather than be worried about where we might visit next. Except of course, when it came to consulting her for the travel plans. "I think brother," I would never get used to how that was an affectionate title between married couples, "that I would like to see this Babylon, or the other great citifies of the north." There was a quirk on her lips, and I leaned forward, kissing her as I licked a stay drop of blood off to her giggling.
A dainty hand slapped my chest, playful more than anything. "Still, several decades?" She was... well, based on the raised eyebrow and the quirk to her lips? I chuckled, reaching forward to hug her.
"Dear. we have all the time in the world to explore and have some fun." Both our eyes gleamed, as the concubine shivered under us. Really, she was a beautiful one, but not half as much as the still technically living woman in my arms. Not to me at any rate.
As I said, marriage did things to a man.