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when she stumbled, but he was also experienced enough as a fighter to know what would happen if she fell. Thus, he thrust her forward and threw his full weight upon her while bracing himself for the impact. Her limpness worried him a little. If she had taken serious hurt, would that mean he had caused her death? The curse, however, did not strike and Madog took heart. He drew a thong out of his belt where several hung ready and drew it around her head between her teeth in no time. This gagged her even more effectively than Madog's hand and fixed the cloth immovably. |
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The rest was easy. There was no way Rhiannon could do anything at all while Madog was kneeling with his full weight on her back. As it was, the pain and pressure, which further impeded her breathing, rendered her totally unconscious. Madog wrenched her arms behind her, bound them, and then bound her feet. Assured that Rhiannon was now helpless, he looked around for Mallt and ground his teeth in fury when he realized she had escaped him. Mallt had to die, too, since she could connect him with Rhiannon's disappearance. She might not intend to betray him, but when the questions started, her courage might easily fail. Madog had intended to thrust a knife into Mallt right here and leave her. If she were found stabbed after Rhiannon was missed, some enemy or band of outlaws skulking in the woods would be blamed for the crimes. |
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Then he remembered that Mallt had not come out of Aber with Rhiannon. That had puzzled him, but he could not worry about it. He would get to Mallt later in the day. As he swung Rhiannon over his shoulder, however, he realized he really did not have much time to attend to Mallt. He would have to get to her as soon as he returned. Once a hue and cry was raised about Rhiannon, all the women would stay close inside Aber for many days. This meant he would have to dispose |
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