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away with trying to leave you alone to die of suffocation or starvation, not to mention his outright murder of Mallt? Even if I were so soft-headed as to agree to that, how do you suggest I explain your condition? If you think I can smuggle you into Aber without anyone seeing you, you are mad." |
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Rhiannon thought that over and sighed. "Could you not?" she begged. "I do not mean not to tell my father about Madog. He must know that Mallt was killed. But . . ." |
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"Rhiannon, do not be an idiot," Simon said. "What do you want me to do, stuff you under my tunic and say I am a pregnant woman?" |
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She laughed at that, but persisted. "I will soon be able to walk. All you have to do is go back and report Mallt's murder. Just do not mention me at all. I can say I had a fall." |
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"Of course," he replied sardonically, "and in the ravineor whatever you fell intothe roots of the trees tangled themselves around your wrists and ankles. Rhiannon, you will bear the marks of that binding for a week or more. You may be able to hide the bruises from Prince Llewelyn himself, but one of the women will see. It will come to his earseverything does. Can you imagine how angryand hurthe will be?" Simon paused and then said, ''Do not be so selfish, Rhiannon. You may be indifferent to the danger to you, but Llewelyn and I are not." |
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"Selfish!" Rhiannon exclaimed. "Man! How dare you! So that you may be easy in your mind, you will bind me faster than Madog did. You would chain me hand and foot and mind to a bower. But when the trumpets blow for war, you will run to them. What woman dares to say, "There is danger; do not go to it'? 'Duty,' you answer, but" |
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"It is not true," Simon interrupted. |
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"What? That you run to war as to a festal merry-making?" |
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