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Page 143
grabbed the cross garter higher up and pressed the point of his sword into Madog's neckbut not hard enough to draw blood. The unspoken threat turned Madog's screams into whimpers mixed with assurances that Rhiannon was unharmed.
"If I find her alive and unhurt," Simon said, "I will do no worse to you."
"Will you let me go?" Madog pleaded.
"I cannot do that," Simon replied. "Do you think I have forgotten that you murdered Mallt? However, that is no affair of mine. Whether you are punished at all and what your punishment will be is Lord Llewelyn's business. Now get to your feet and take me to Lady Rhiannon without more talk, or I will begin again where I left off with you."
"I will die anyway," Madog wept. "She is a witch. She cursed me."
"You are an idiot," Simon responded in a disgusted voice, prodding Madog ahead with his sword. "Lady Rhiannon is no witch. She has no power of cursing. Now bring me to her at once. And do not think to lead me around in circles. Whatever happened to my lady took no more than the time from early dawn to breakfastwhere I saw you. If you do not find her in half that time, I will have your manhood off instead of your ear. You deserve it for laying a hand upon her."
Madog plunged ahead, knowing that Simon would not repeat his threat but would carry it out. Simon's face was as rigid as that of a corpse and his eyes were terrible. That, Madog thought, was the will of the witch. For that reason he made no attempt to delay but found the path Mallt and Rhiannon had taken that morning. They went much more quickly than the women had because Mallt had slowed progress as much as she could. A few minutes' swift walking brought them to the place where Madog had attacked Rhiannona patch where the earth, twigs, and dry leaves were scuffed and disturbed.

 
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