Your witch steps before the assembled crowd, "I volunteer."

The words send a shock down your spine as all eyes turn to your companion. Muffled chatter rises as the Lord Inquisitor calls for your witch to be shackled immediately. You share a pleading stare with your battle-sister.

"Thank you, Oathsworn," praises the King. "Your sacrifice is most honorable. But I would not permit such a valuable asset to be wasted so readily. I am told there is still time to locate others of your kind, and if what you say is true, we will need far more than just a single witch. We should exhaust every other resource before considering such a heavy cost."

With a raised gauntlet, the King silences the crowd again. "Anyone who would sacrifice themself for the good of the realm is no enemy of the crown," he says. "This woman is already a hero to us all. Therefore she is now under my protection, Lord Inquisitor. I would have you personally ensure no harm comes to her."

The crowd erupts with whispers and more than a few snide remarks. While the King may be the highest authority in the realm, his power resides in the recognition of and adherence to tradition. To openly protect a witch flies in the face of not only those traditions, but also goes against the teachings of the church. The young monarch will almost assuredly lose support for the gesture, yet he nods proudly at your witch.