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Page 114
it would have been extremely painful to try to couple on that rocky beach, Madog decided that they were finished and were planning their next assignation.
He had not stopped to think that he might as well have accused them without trying to follow, but now he decided that if he could hear what they planned, he could bring Gruffydd with him next time. But he was too intent on his purpose, and did not stop to realize that the wind was blowing from the shore toward the sea so that the horse sensed him. As soon as Simon rose ready to draw his sword, Madog had begun to back away. He was not looking for a fight; he had taken Antwn's warnings to heart and realized they would plan no further now that they had been disturbed.
Rhiannon's threat thus offended and terrified Madog all the more because it seemed prescient. She had not said Do not shoot or Go away. She seemed to have read his heart, for it was a daring notion to involve Gruffydd in removing the cursed Saeson. But Rhiannon had cursed him! Only witches could curse. Then Rhiannon was a witch. Of course she was! She had always been very strange, not like any other woman. That monstrous cat that spat and hissed at him every time he sought to have a few private words with her must be her familiar.
Sweating with fear, Madog had withdrawn and hurried directly back to Aber. The distance was not great. Running as fast as he could, Madog reached the gate while Ymlladd was still setting one foot cautiously after another on the steep rise from the cove. Inside the gate he felt terribly weak and sick, which added greatly to his terror. He sank into the shade at the side of a building to rest. After a while, when he had caught his breath, he felt better and began to wonder what he should do instead of expecting to be struck dead any instant. He did not know whether forswearing his plans would automatically lift the curse; he did not know how swiftly or by what mechanism the curse

 
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