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Page 119
and that the curse had taken hold. His first notion was to flee the court, but his strength started to return. Perhaps the curse only worked in Rhiannon's presence. However, he did not feel well enough to ride away just then. Through the rest of the afternoon he had no serious attack, but to his horror, he still felt the curse working in him. His mouth was dry and his heart frequently pounded hard. Periodically, too, he broke out into a cold sweat.
During the remainder of the day his terror and his symptomsa direct result of that terror, had he only stopped to think about the sensations of fearcontinued. Half-believing that death was imminent, Madog found a priest and confessed his sins. Then, although he was still afraid that he would die instantly if he named Rhiannon, he told the priest there was a witch in the village near his father's estate and asked, in general, what could be done to save a man from a cursing.
Various remedies were suggested, but Madog quickly realized that the answer was to get rid of the curseor the witch. He did not long consider appealing to Rhiannon to convince her he had meant no harm so that she would withdraw the curse. Spiteful bitch that she was, she might take against him in the future for some imagined slight. It would be better, far better and more permanent, if he eliminated the witch. But how? Having cursed him, surely she would not trust herself alone to him. Even if she would, he did not dare be seen with her shortly before she disappeared. To wake Llewelyn's enmity would be as bad as being cursed.
Then he remembered the venom in Mallt's voice, and he considered the consequences of enlisting her help. He found Mallt without difficulty and made his proposalnot mentioning what he intended after she brought Rhiannon to a private meeting with him. Mallt opened her mouth to refuse. but she knew Madog had been sincere when he said he hated Rhiannon, and,

 
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