This is a multiple part drabble series. There are I believe four installments? So far at least. =)

Ravyn

Kaoru felt like she was being pulled down by something thick and sticky. Every time she managed to make it close to the surface – it pulled her back down until she was unable to breathe. Eventually she managed to drag out and laid there exhausted. She didn't realize someone had pressed their hands to her chest until they were missing.

"She should come around soon now." The voice was old and thin, wavering a little and it took Kaoru a moment to place it. When she did, shock surfaced weakly in her system. It had been a long time since she had heard Dr. Gensai speak in such a manner. It was as if he was completely worn… it was hard to think.

"But she is going to be fine, right? I mean, she is going to be okay." Misao's high voice held a frantic edge to it that had Kaoru struggling with the heavy line of her eyelashes. "Look! She's moving! Kaoru, Kaoru can you hear me?"

Kaoru found herself opening her eyes to meet the fuzzy features of the Heir's face, her brows tucked together and her skin paper white. "Kaoru, why did you do that?"

"What," she croaked out, "are you doing in my bedroom?"

"You're in my bedroom, if you want to get technical. I had the hardest time getting Dr. Gensai past Shinomori, you know, grandmother's grumpy Captain of the Guard? Anyway, he didn't want Dr. Gensai up here, but I put my foot down. I thought you were dying."

"You weren't dying," Dr. Gensai said smoothly. "However, I don't think knowing what I know now of what happened to you, I would have tried fixing it myself."

"That was a nasty spell trap," Kaoru said slowly, shifting to push herself up in bed as she started to remember. "I'm a little blurry on the details right now, but I am sure that it was a spell trap…"

"It was," Misao said wearily. "I have never seen one like that." Her lips were still white. "It drained you down to the dregs. It must have been something in that little amulet of yours that saved you, because Dr. Gensai said you had no magic. None."

Kaoru blinked slowly, her fingers slipping up her necklace.

"I'm sorry I put you in that position, doctor." She closed her eyes as she fought off the dizziness. "How long will I be without this particular protection?"

"At least two weeks, maybe longer; I am leaning towards longer. Hopefully, with proper food and rest, it won't last longer than six weeks, but Miss Kamiya… you will not be able to use any of your offensive or defensive magic. You will be prone to dizzy spells and will increase your food intake to at least twice what it is now."
Kaoru rubbed her eyes. "That was a trap, Misao. Someone was attempting to kill you."

Misao sat down on the bed. "How did they get past Shinomori?" she whispered her eyes huge.

"Shinomori's concern is your grandmother," Kaoru pointed out gently, her voice tired. "You will not become his priority until your grandmother abdicates." Kaoru finally managed to work her way into a sitting position. "Then you get all his attention to yourself."

"I don't want it," Misao said, her features darkening.

"Misao, are you certain you don't want him to know what is going on? I gave my vows to you and I won't break them," Kaoru continued, holding up a hand to waylay her furious denials. "This is the fifth attempt in a month and this one was nasty. What if you had set off that spell trap instead of me?"

"I can't," Misao said, her chin rising at the angle that always set off the feline cast of her features, making her eyes spark. "I won't."

Kaoru rubbed her nose. "Thank you for your services, Dr. Gensai, but I will be fine now."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but gave a weary sigh instead. "I will send up a list of foods that will aid you in your recovery."

Kaoru nodded her thanks and then focused her eyes on the princess who was pacing back and forth across the room, her face twisted into an uncharacteristic frown.

"Kaoru, I can't ask…"

"I need a consort."

"What?" Misao gasped, her eyes widening.

"I need a consort." Kaoru repeated. "At least until your grandmother steps down. You have another ten years in your training and I need someone to watch my back while I watch yours."

She tested her weight against the floor gingerly.

"But… but a consort? I thought you didn't… I mean, you always said that you didn't…"

"I changed my mind," Kaoru said with a shrug. "I'm not going to bring him in as my lover and I have enough of my own money to set him up with a steady income and put him somewhere he can be happy afterwards. It's just ten years," she soothed her wide-eyed friend. "Who knows, maybe I can find a friend in the situation."

"But…."

"Misao," Kaoru tried again wishing she had the energy to argue. "You have to think it through. I am under pressure to bear the Yukishiro clan a child; my mother is off on a diplomatic mission for your grandmother and you are the heir to the throne. In ten years, your grandmother will retire and you will assume reign as Queen. By law, Shinomori cannot assist you until you are named Queen. We both know that. Only when you are Queen will you be untouchable. Whoever is going to try to kill you has ten years to do it. In order to protect you I need someone I can trust. If I can't find a way not to enter a contract for a child with the Yukishiro's, I will need someone to watch over me and my child, but I think the idea of having a consort will infuriate Enishi enough that he will back off."

A grim smile touched her mouth. "I need a consort."

Misao's expression suddenly shifted, the delicate lines of her brows smoothing so that her features took on a familiar cast. It was her grandmother's expression.

"I get to pick the candidates."

"Oh no…" Kaoru said, shaking her head.

"Listen to me," Misao ordered. "I get to pick the candidates. I have more resources than you do. I can pull people that you, even you in your lofty position, can't touch." Her features were stubborn. "You need the best and I can get them. Two days from now I will have your first candidates."

Kaoru sighed. "Fine. Right. Sure." Rubbing her brows, she stood. "I have to go and figure some things out. Tomorrow, Misao."

"What?"

"Have them ready by tomorrow. I have my reasons."

Misao blinked as Kaoru slowly moved out of the room. "I hope she knows what she is doing."

X

Gods above she had wanted to avoid this for as long as possible. She had told Misao only a half-truth. Misao wasn't the only target being slowly honed in on. Leaning up against a wall, she let the natural shadows of the hallway cloak her presence. Reaching upwards she pressed her fingers against her temples, letting out a long sigh.

She had spent most of her life teaching herself the arts of both offensive and defensive magic, teaching herself how to strike at the heart of those who went against the throne. Right now she was working on slowly and carefully building a magical web that would protect Misao from the worst of her enemy's attacks – help her to prove that Shinomori wasn't necessary as just the Captain of her Guard. The web itself wasn't complete; it would take another five years for Kaoru to finish the delicate spells and connect everything.

Five years that she didn't have any more. Closing her eyes for a moment, she allowed herself to reach deep inside where she kept her stored magical well. It was completely empty, dry as if she was an apprentice who had invested too much power into a spell that was out of her league.

A consort.

Kaoru let her head fall back against the wall and swore softly. She had been old enough to take a consort or husband since her eighteenth birthday, nearly two decades past. She had never found anyone she trusted to be her equal in either technique or sheer brute strength. After Misao, she was next to the throne, but she had never intended to take it for herself. Misao was the Queen's chosen heir; had the benefit of learning at her knee for almost thirty years. They were friends. Kaoru would do whatever it took to protect her.

And it seemed that protection would involve taking a man as a consort.

Women of the upper courts rarely married. Children were more likely to stem from political alliances. Consorts tended to be men who were strong enough to protect a woman and her children from the dangers of other political households. In the South the kingdom was ruled by men and was supposedly less bloodthirsty, but for Kaoru's people, those who gave life were the ones who could take it away.

Consorts were weapons that shared a woman's bed tied for a minimum of ten years by law. Sometimes, a woman would bear a child to the consort's bloodline, but only those were extremely favored received that honor. Even rarer still was the taking of a husband. Either way, consort or husband, the contracts were written very carefully, each woman making sure that they did not in some way give the man a position in the household greater than theirs.

Women ruled the men and the men served the women. At least, that was how the higher courts were ruled. Towards things operated a little differently and while the women in families generally had the last say, peasant lives were difficult enough; it was an ongoing battle to continue to establish the middle class. There it made sense for a woman to take multiple lovers who could aid her in caring for her offspring and to ensure there was enough food if one man was killed by bandits or disease.

Tomorrow – that was as long as she had before she was forced to choose the man she would be dealing with for the next ten years, assuming he accepted her bribe to accept the position. Men who were strong were well sought after, but some of them would refuse to serve a particular household or women if they were abusers. It was their right, after all, to ask for conditions in the contract as well.

Pushing away from the wall, Kaoru tried not to fall over as she walked down the hall. She had to give the appearance of being perfectly healthy. Once she returned to her room, she would have to find her sword and long knife; start keeping them close. Turning a corner, she was startled when she almost ran into a man, his dark red hair catching the light. They managed to avoid crashing into each other – he kept his eyes on the floor, his apology curiously accented before he was gone.

Shaking off her weariness, she set her chin and headed back to her room.

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