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although he was certainly no hero, but too many incomprehensible things had happened to him over the past two days. Terror so unhinged him, however, that he forgot the dead woman at his feet, and he stumbled over her body and fell. That was the stroke that finished him. He lay on his face, screaming and whimpering and begging for mercy. |
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More because he was nauseated by Madog's behavior than because he feared the man would try to resist, Simon brought the hilt of his knife down sharply on Madog's head. The whimpers and cries stopped abruptly. Simon pulled Madog's sword from its sheath and tossed it well away. Then, since he had not expected to need to restrain anyone, he pulled off Madog's cross garters and used one to tie his hands firmly behind his back and the other to form a noose around his neck. As long as Madog was quiet, the noose would lie open. The moment he tried to run or resist, it would tighten and choke him. |
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Simon then stood and began to slap Madog's face with the flat of his sword. He was not overcareful of just how he held the weapon, so now and again the edge cut. However, he had not hit Madog very hard and a few strokes were enough to bring him fully conscious. |
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"Where is Lady Rhiannon?" Simon asked quietly. |
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"I do not know!" Madog wailed, shaking with fear. |
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Simon smiled. "Would you prefer to lose your right ear or your left ear first?" he inquired. |
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"You would not dare," Madog quavered. |
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For answer, Simon swiftly put his heel on Madog's throat, pinning his chin with the ball of his foot, and in one swift motion sliced off his right ear. Madog's first scream was so loud that Simon began to fear a guard at Aber would hear him, but the solution was simple. Simon merely pulled the noose so tight that Madog's screams were strangled. He then tucked his sword under one arm, grasped the man's sword belt, |
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