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and began to drag him behind the thick clump of trees in which he had hidden, where the sound would be muffled and distorted. Then he dropped him, inserted his sword under the knot, and loosened the noose. |
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Before Madog could get enough breath to begin to scream again, Simon said pleasantly, "Now you know I am in earnest. I will ask you again what you have done with Lady Rhiannon. I will take your left ear next, then your balls, then a finger at a time. You do not need to worry about bleeding to death, you know. I will make a fire and heat my knife and sear your wounds so that you will live." He paused a moment and then added bleakly, "I will be very, very careful that you live." |
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Tears ran down Madog's face mingling with the blood, and he shook his head mutely from side to side. In his first shock and terror he had not believed Simon could know he had anything to do with Rhiannon, and for a moment more he believed that if he still claimed ignorance after losing an ear, Simon would believe him. However, when he saw Simon lift his foot to secure his head for the removal of his other ear, he understood that Simon knew for certain what he had done. The "witch" or her familiar had somehow informed against him. |
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"I will show you," he screamed. "I did not kill her. I did not even hurt her." |
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In that moment Simon almost lost his prisoner. Relief at hearing that Rhiannon was still alive struck him like a physical blow. He turned pale and his hand loosened on the noose that held Madog. Utter desperation lent the man more swiftness and perception than was natural to him. He rolled over, stumbled to his feet, jerking the noose out of Simon's lax fingers, and started to run. The attempt did not succeed. In ten strides Simon had caught up with him and put his foot on the trailing noose, throwing him to the ground. |
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Madog screamed again and lashed out with his feet as Simon bent to retrieve the noose, but Simon merely |
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