Bensiabel, the Witch's Son

March Character Interview

Patricia Parrington ~ March 1, 2026

Hello my lovely readers and fellow book-lovers! For those of you new here, I, your dragon-loving host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.

Today, the Witch’s son, Bensiabel, is here with us from the new adult fairytale retelling Thief, Witch, & Liar by Emmarayn Redding. Emmarayn is a Christian author, artist, poet, and musician who lives on the plains of North Dakota with her family. Her stories have been featured in Clean Fiction Magazine, the Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children podcast, and Ganbatte! The Ties That Bind Us, an AnimeLit Anthology.

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Meet Bensiabel

Welcome to Fable Features! I’m excited to get to know you.

[Bensiabel beams and sweeps an arm across his waist in a deep bow, removing his feathered hat.]

That is very pleasant to hear, maiden. I am thrilled to meet you.

[Patricia smiles at her guest. A little blue dragon climbs up her leg and curls in her lap.]

I hope you don’t mind if my pseudodragon, Scribblemore, joins us. On the topic of animals, what animal would you choose as a sidekick?

[Bensiabel seems enchanted by the pseudodragon.]

How could I mind such a delightful pet as this?  May I stroke him?  The way he curls up on you reminds me of my cat, Micio.  There’s no question of choice when it comes to an animal “sidekick” as you put it.  As if Micio would tolerate me having anyone but him!

You can definitely pet him!

[Scribblemore hops onto Bensiabel’s lap, walks three tight circles, then curls up with a contented sigh. Patricia chuckles.]

I think he can tell you’re good with animals. Sounds like Micio is already a great sidekick!

What would you say is your best physical feature?

[Bensiabel hums in contemplation and rubs his chin with one hand as he strokes Scribblemore with the other.]

Well, that’s been the subject of some debate—people generally find me quite alluring, I’m told.  I’m very tall compared to everyone in the village, and my eyes are a pale hazel that seems to arrest a person’s attention.  But overall I think I’d have to say it’s my hair.  It’s thick and black, but filled with silver strands like starlight.

[Patricia leans forward to get a better look.]

Wow, it really does look like strands of starlight!

What’s your favorite memory?

[He sighs and looks wistful.]

That’s easy.  I don’t have many happy memories, but the one I cherish most is when I first met that girl in Casenga—Mother calls her Prunella, but that’s not her name.  I was only a boy, and I’d run away from home for the day to get away from . . . everything.  I found Pru in the forest beneath a beautiful plum tree, and she was sweeter and kinder than anyone I’d ever met before. I never told anyone, but I lost my heart to her that day while we played.

She sounds like a wonderful girl. What happened to her? Do you still get to see her?

[A look of guilt crosses Bensiabel’s face, and he shifts, focusing on petting Scribblemore for a moment.]

For years, we scarcely met, and in that time, we both grew up, enough to understand that things were complicated.  Now?  Well, to make a long story short, I . . . I get to see her quite often now. Though, she doesn’t like it.  Doesn’t like me, and I can’t truly blame her, considering her situation as my mother’s slave.

That does complicate things, and I don’t blame the girl either. That’s hard.

[Patricia adjusts the couch pillow.]

I can tell this topic is hard for you. Let’s move on to the next question!

Do you have any enemies right now?

[A wry smile touches Bensiabel’s lips, and a gleam enters his eye.]

Well, to be honest it would be easier to ask who isn’t my enemy.  The whole village hates me, I have an aunt bent on destroying or enslaving me, and even my mother—

[He pauses and swallows hard, going momentarily pale.]

Forgive me.  My mother adores me, truly.  She and I just . . . struggle, sometimes.

[Patricia’s brows pinch together in concern.]

That sounds like such a hard life! Why do you think the village hates you?

[Bensiabel laughs and gives a helpless gesture.]

Oh, I don’t know . . . It may have something to do with the fact that I am the Witch’s henchman.  I’m the only face for their villain they’ve ever known.  Or it may have more to do with the fact that I’ve got most of them neatly in my debt in some way or other, owing me favors to be paid at some later date.  Again, I can’t really blame anyone for disliking me.

[He sighs and grows contemplative.]

There’s a lot they don’t know about me.  Maybe they’d be more forgiving if they did.

They might! There are always two sides to every story, hmm? People aren’t as black and white as we make them out to be. Perhaps if they knew more about you and your situation they would understand better.

What place would you like to visit someday?

[He looks thoughtful and excited.]

Everywhere, really.  I might not seem terribly sheltered, but I’ve never been anywhere but my home and the village of Casenga!  These mountains and forests have been my whole life.  I want to see the ocean, and the city of Venicci, the isles of Galland and the far dunes of Haranni . . . everywhere I’ve ever read about in my books. I want to see and touch it all.

Those do sound like amazing places to visit! My sister is quite adventurous as well—she hates staying in one place for too long.

What would you say is your greatest achievement so far?

[A proud and flattered look comes over Bensiabel’s face, though he tries not to show it.]

I’m so glad you’ve asked! Invention and improvement of magical spells is a particular interest of mine.  For a long time, my greatest achievement was the instantaneous transport spell I wrote when I was a youth, but lately I’ve been experimenting with the ability to wrap an adaptive charm within a small object.  Something with enough power and transformative quality to address a person’s current greatest need in the most efficient way possible.  It’s . . . complex, to say the least, and it requires a great deal of strength and skill to wrap that much magical power into something small enough to carry, but I have a feeling this could secure my name in legend for generations—not to mention save lives.

[Patricia’s green eyes widen in wonder.]

That sounds so cool! I’ve always been fascinated by magic. Is magic very prevalent where you live or is it more of a secretive, hidden thing?

[Bensiabel’s eyes brighten, and he lifts an elegant finger in excitement.]

That is a very interesting question.  Magic where I come from is rather a mixture of both!  One must be born with it to use it, and it is relatively rare for such a one to be born—and even then, there are some who may only have a smidgen of power in their blood and never notice it beyond having more than their share of good luck.  That being said, magic itself is highly prevalent in our culture.  You might say Romì’s entire history has been formed by the deeds of great mages and wicked witches.  Commonfolk live with a healthy respect for both. We make our mark upon the world, no doubt of it.

Wow, that’s very cool!

So your greatest achievement lies in your skills of magic and invention. But what is your greatest regret?

[He sobers and looks troubled before answering haltingly.]

I—I was careless . . . selfish, with someone I love.  I only wanted to help, but my gift caused an innocent woman to be taken from her family and brought into our home as a slave.  It’s wonderful to have Prunella near me at last, but it’s my fault that she’s a prisoner.  I . . . I don’t know if I can do anything about it.

Oh. I’m sorry to hear that . . . that would be difficult to wrestle with, knowing you were the cause to a friend’s imprisonment.

[Patricia shakes her head and gives him a small smile.]

Hopefully you can find a way to restore things and free Prunella! Well, it looks like our time is almost out. Let’s squeeze in one last question:

What’s a phrase you’d like to have etched on your tombstone?

[Bensiabel looks a bit sheepish but seems excited to share.]

I’m not sure anyone will give me a tombstone, but if they did, I’d like a poem in terza rima, like Giado’s Quest.  Something like,

              Here lies Bensiabel, scholar, hero, mage;

              Mourned by his nation, his family, and his wife

              Known by all Romì as The Man of the Age.

But, none of that is true yet.  Except for the scholar and the mage bit.  I . . . have a long way to go.

It may not be true yet, but I think it’s a great goal to aim for it!

[Patricia gets up from the couch and Scribblemore hops off Bensiabel’s lap.]

Thank you so much for chatting with me today. I hope you’re able to achieve all your goals!  

[Bensiabel stands and straightens his doublet, offering another elegant bow before replacing his hat.]

Maiden, it has been a pleasure to share your company today, and that of your charming pseudodragon as well!  It is seldom that I get to have conversations so free of strife as this.  Take care and farewell!

End of interview.

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Want to Read More?

Bensiabel’s author, Emmarayn Redding, can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and at her website, www.emmarayn.com. Browse and buy her books here!

Cover by @shayndl_art and author. Scribblemore with Bensiable art by author.

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See Ya Next Time

Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Bensiabel, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.

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If you would like to submit a character to be interviewed for a future issue of Fable Features, please send an email to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Fable Features.

Please note that erotica and content with excessive vulgar language will not be accepted.

If you have questions you'd like Patricia Parrington to ask in a future interview, please submit them to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interview Questions.