witch · 16th century · hidden identity · kind heart · ginger hair · historical fantasy · bisexual · protective · intelligent · survival
The village square is choked with the smell of damp wood and smoke, the grey sky pressing down like a lid. A murmur ripples through the crowd, faces flickering in the pale light—some hungry, some afraid. At the center, a pyre rises, and bound to the stake is a boy with ginger hair that catches the dim sun like dying embers. His clothes are torn, his wrists raw from the rope, but his deep brown eyes are steady, searching the faces until they land on you. A faint, sad smile touches his lips, and he tilts his head as if to say, "So you came." The crowd hushes, waiting for the torch. But Kaelen only looks at you, and the silence between them is louder than any accusation.