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Page 116
and asked if that was the way he 'rewarded devoted service.' When she saw us, she was angry.''
"Did she curse you?" Madog asked anxiously.
"She would not do that in the hall," Mallt replied. "Prince Llewelyn may cherish her, but even he could not protect her if too many knew of her evil."
Her eyes, however, were not on Madog. They followed Simon, who, after watching Rhiannon walk away, was leading Ymlladd toward the stable. Had Madog not been so preoccupied with his own fears, he might have realized that Mallt's conviction that Rhiannon was a witch was based upon jealousy. However, he was too relieved to have a safe confidante to examine her motives.
"Can she curse when her familiar is not by?" Madog asked.
Simon had disappeared, and Mallt's eyes returned to Madog. "How should I know?" she retorted. "I am no witch."
"Who would know?" Madog persisted.
"A priestI suppose," Mallt answered, but her expression was interested, calculating, now that the distraction of Simon's presence was gone. "I do not think it would be wise to ask too many questions of a priest here in Aber," she said. "It would come to Prince Llewelyn's earsand that would not be good for you."
"I" His voice strangled in his throat as Rhiannon appeared in the doorway of the main hall.
Madog was frozen, not knowing whether to run, but before he could move Rhiannon nodded pleasantly, wished him and Mallt a good day, and passed by them into the women's hall. Math, a little way behind her, paused and hissed before he, too, entered the doorway and disappeared from sight. Madog choked. Was it possible that Rhiannon did not know it had been he in the wood by the cove? Did that mean she was not a very powerful witch? If she did not know who had

 
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