Krillit. She knew him, actually. One of those commanders who came to their title by bloodline, rather than their own merit. Always eager to claim glory, but less so to get involved on the battlefield himself. A preening, peacocking noble, the sort of person she often took enjoyment in tweaking the nose of. Even though she disliked him, however, she wouldn't have wished this sort of fate on him. By Rysalt's words, however, it hadn't taken the young man much coercion to switch sides. First agents within the capital, now turncoats in the army itself. Before, she had been reasonably certain that the kingdom could win this war--numbers and military might would eventually triumph. But Rysalt's skillful undermining had cast that into doubt.<br/><br/>And not only did he attack the foundations of the kingdom, he now targeted her own convictions, calling her supposed "knighthood" and "honor" into question. Her only response was a poisonous scowl, until he brought up the outcome of their battle. "Nobody<i>owns</i>me," she hissed, leaning forward, her hands tightening into fists once more. "I decide my own path--I always have." The world could brand her a devil, her family could raise her as a warlord, but she would always prove them wrong. Aryel was a creature who had come to thrive on conflict--having something to fight against only bolstered her resolve. That resolve had wavered, however, as she accepted the morsel. The idea of submitting in any form was anathema to her, but fortunately, her desire to protect those she deemed<i>hers</i>overpowered her personal pride.<br/><br/>He would act before she could react, seizing her wrist in a grip of iron and hauling her forward as she let out a startled shout. She tried to bring up her free arm to catch herself before she hit the ground face-first, but he still succeeded in pulling her down against the carpeted floor. A grunt of pain escaped her as her much-abused abdomen and chest were bashed against the ground, followed by her chin as he put her face-to-face with his manhood once more. Sharp pain told her she had bitten her tongue on impact, but when she opened her mouth to curse him, he muffled her with the deceptive bite and pinned her down. Aryel angrily spat out the offending fruit, squirming as much as his restraining hand would allow. A tirade of cursing followed him as he shifted position, moving out of her peripheral view to kneel behind her. She felt his hand loosen and trail down her body, cutting off her hurled abuse with a sharp gasp as he gave her rump a squeeze, and waited expectantly.<br/><br/>Aryel was breathing hard, both from panic and from the sudden flare of aches as he jostled her bruised insides, but she didn't yet try to leap up and escape. She knew what he was intending to do, and as much as it repulsed her, she knew what he expected<i>her </i>to do. "I imagine this is part of 'buying better treatment for them'?" she growled quietly, shifting so that she could support her upper body with her forearms against the ground and looking over her shoulder at him.