Yes

"Aliara, we have to. They'll kill us if we don't. Or worse."

The half-elf swallowed and nodded. She hefted her spear and began to circle. Teysa was torn. She was sure that she couldn't seriously hurt or kill Aliara. She didn't have it in her. For one thing, it was hardly a fair fight. Teysa overtopped the smaller woman by four inches and outweighed her by forty pounds. Li was a sneak-- she was great with a dagger in a tight spot, and her slender limbs were surprisingly muscular-- but she wasn't half the toe-to-toe fighter the paladin was.

She matched Aliara's stride. Li had an imploring expression on her face and her eyes raced. She's not going to make the first move, thought Teysa. She's terrified. The paladin decided to break the deadlock. Thundering forward with a battle cry she swiped the spear in a diagonal motion, forcing her opponent to tumble backward. The rogue was agile, at least, and rolled smoothly to her feet. Teysa followed that up with a flurry of jabs that had her opponent ducking and dodging frantically. She tried to close the gap, but Aliara was slippery and wouldn't be pinned down. The half-elf essayed a few light thrusts of her own, which Teysa parried easily. Shifting her grip, the she swung down from above. Aliara vaulted to the side, but the attack was a feint, and the butt of the spear swung back to crack her across the jaw.

Aliara stumbled, a look of hurt incomprehension on her face. She spat a mouthful of blood and narrowed her eyes. Teysa's expression was a mute apology. Hoping her friend would forgive her, she lunged, battering repeatedly from above. The rogue parried each of the blows, but Teysa's greater strength was showing and she steadily gained ground. Aliara tried to dodge left but found herself fenced in. Panic flashed across her face. She's going to make a break for it.

The half-elf darted to the right, but Teysa was ready. Her spear butt thudded into the rogue's stomach, knocking the wind out of her and sending her own spear flying. Teysa followed up with a leg sweep that sent Aliara careening into the sand and leveled her spear at her friend's head. Li scrabbled to her knees, then froze when she saw the spear in her face. Her lip began to tremble and tears beaded in the corner of her eyes. She looked up in mute appeal.

Teysa's heart froze. At the top of the spear was the freedom she had dreamed of for months. Never to be bred again. Never to be violated again... and all I have to do...

After a long moment, she threw her spear aside.

"No. I won't. Kill me if you have to. I'm not going to kill my friend. Not for you. Not for anyone."
Aliara sobbed with relief by Teysa's feet. The paladin ignored her. Her attention was on the driders-- they were rearing up, hissing, murmuring in anger. The matron let this go on for a few seconds, then silenced them with a gesture.

"Hyou ssssssspare her. Why? Assssscension is within hyour grasp. You musssssst reach out and take it."