[3434] The Lure

[1853]

[2223]

[1203]

This is chapter 7. Hold on. Bear with me as to why I'm posting this. I need more perspectives about something specific. This chapter, more than any other, I used a stronger and more consistent period-centric register. Most of everything else has been relatively modern. I need to know if readers think this is better, or if the language creates too much of barrier and trips people up too much.

Yes, the number of names brought is going to be confusing and I'm braced for pushback on other things. All feedback is welcome. For context leading into this scene:

This world is set in 18th century North Yorkshire. The village is rural and isolated. Witchraft is condemned. However, girls in this world commonly have certain preternatural gifts, something called the lure. These are mostly small things, like hyper acute hearing. As teens, they tend to form circles and sneak onto the moors or other hidden areas to attempt combine lure into greater magical feats than they can typically do alone (called esbats). While adults may somewhat turn a blind eye to this, any event that sparks social contagion and panic, often snowballs into accusations of witchcraft and trial. This chapter centers the protagonist, Marcella, her sister Rose, and their circle in this event.

story link here