Cormac saw the defiance in the young womans eyes and he chuckled.  He towered over her, his dark flesh and burning red eyes making him seem much more than human, which in fact he was.  She would be his for the night, there was no doubt about his intentions.  The stiffening bulge behind his loincloth was testament to that.<br/><br/>"You would defy the King?" He asked. "That isn't a wise choice.  Perhaps it would be best if your insolence were beaten out of you first..."<br/><br/>Cormac's arm shot out, grabbing her roughly by the wrist.  He squeezed it tightly, painfully, with the strength of a man that had wrestled bulls into submission with his bare hands.  Then, he turned, and tossed her toward his bed of furs, letting her land in a heap.<br/><br/>"You will learn to obey your King..." He promised as he advanced.<br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>As the war ships advanced on the castle, the alarm bells began to chime loudly, the sound echoing as it traveled inland.  Riders were dispatched to the large keep to deliver the news of Volrath's approach.  As the war ships were riding in the tide, the shore began lining with balistas and archers.  Infantry held back, lining the secondary line of defense, and behind them, their armor as dark as the night, were the dreaded Shadow Legion.  The horde would have no success in their foolish attack on the   Kings home this night.