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influence. He knew she was not dead yet, for he had felt her breathing while he carried her and while he was hiding her away. However, he was reasonably sure she had been severely injured when he fell on her and would die soon; her breathing had been deep at first but had grown shallower and shallower. Now all he had to do was find Mallt, lure her back into the woods, and kill her. Then he would be safe. |
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As soon as Madog had enveloped Rhiannon's head, Mallt had fled away as fast as her feet could carry her. She did not fear Madog, and she would have liked to see him kill Rhiannon, but her own safety was more important. She wanted to be sure that Madog could not counter any threat to betray him she might makeor the actual betrayal, if that became necessaryby involving her. She had already established the first half of her excuse for being out that morning. Now she needed to complete it. |
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She ran back down the path Rhiannon and she had followed earlier until she came to the edge of the for-est. Following this northward, Mallt came out on a headland above the ocean. When she found a way down to the rocky beach, she grabbed hastily at what-ever seaweed came to hand and quickly filled the basket she had brought. At the end of the cove, Mallt discovered she had chosen luckily. She found a broad, easy path to the top of the headland and a well-defined road leading first to a small village of fishermen and from there to Aber. She sang aloud as she walked along, swinging her basket of seaweed. Everything was going just as she had planned, even better than she had planned. The fisherwomen looking out of their huts and working around them would remember her and back up her story. |
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Moved by her general good spirits, Mallt resolved to see if she could win Madog more gently than by threats. She could begin easily and in a very flattering |
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