Brom's surveillance grew more constant; he even went so far as to follow my mother.Elena had grown impatient, since the school she wanted to start had remained nothing more than an idea for months.I think the time has come to confront him. I considered several approaches, but the best choice would be to divert his focus—and I know exactly how to do that.
I waited for my mother to head toward the forest to the northeast of the village. She often goes there to look for different herbs that we haven't cataloged yet.I noticed that Brom followed her again, even after Gertrudes had scolded him. I had to stop my father from going after him several times. I don't blame him—anyone who didn't know better would think Brom was pursuing her like an infatuated man.
After she left, I waited a few minutes and then followed.
When my mother entered the forest, I noticed Brom's shadow. If not for my training in meditation and magic, which sharpened my senses, I might not have noticed him at all.I began to trail him. I cast a brief spell to bend the light around me and another to muffle the sound of my footsteps.
I closed the distance quickly.
He stopped and looked back.His instincts warned him that someone was nearby.Brom scanned the forest for movement: tense shoulders, hands beneath his cloak—probably gripping a weapon—eyes focused, unblinking.
I let the tension of that moment linger for a few more seconds.Then I dispelled the spell.
When he sees me, I notice recognition in his eyes. His posture shifts, but his legs tense, as if he's about to lunge.I tilt my head slightly and watch him, as though studying him.
"I'm fairly sure you know my mother is married."
I can see the surprise on his face. Perhaps he expected outright aggression—I don't know—but surprise also serves my purpose. The aggression in his stance eases, and that's good.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he asks sharply.
From a brief flash of embarrassment, I realize he understands perfectly well. He's just trying to play it off.
"Don't play dumb. A man follows a woman into the forest… next you'll tell me it's all a coincidence."
He falls silent for a moment, then seems to recover from the surprise.
"Yes, I'm just taking a walk. But what's strange is someone appearing out of nowhere like a ghost. What the hell are you?"
He tries to steer the conversation away, hoping I'll reveal more while he keeps the initiative with his questions.
"Brom, I ignored you because I realized you were watching Garrow and his family. Since he's never left Carvahall, nor has his wife, the only conclusion left is that you're here because of the youngest child—the nephew."
I speak calmly, never taking my eyes off him.
"And from that, I have two possibilities: either you have some grievance with the child's father and you're here waiting for him to show up… or you're the child's father—at the very least, an uncle."
As I speak, I watch his face closely.The emotions flicker by too quickly for an ordinary man: I see fear when I mention the child, relief when I propose the first theory… and then the fear returns, stronger, with the second.
"So you are the father."
I already knew that, but now I had a plausible reason for that knowledge.
As I finish speaking, his posture changes, and I hear him say:
"Thrysta eka."
I feel the magic shaping itself to obey the command. I trace the rune of gravity, invoking the concept of gravitational force to repel that energy. It pushes everything around me away, including the force he used to bind me.
I see tension in his jaw and make a simple gesture for a wall-of-earth spell, causing it to rise directly beneath his feet. It interrupts his spell, and I see his eyes widen in surprise.He realizes I didn't use the Ancient Language.
He performs a quick roll to steady himself and becomes more cautious, keeping his distance.
The confrontation lasts only a few seconds, but it's enough for him to realize that a direct clash wouldn't be advantageous for him.
"So you've finally dropped the disguise of a simple storyteller, huh? I don't care why you keep your distance from your son, as long as it isn't something that harms the people of Carvahall. Just stop bothering my family—we have more important matters to deal with."
I finish with a faint note of threat.
I cast a spell to reduce my weight, followed by a wind spell for momentum, and close the distance in an instant.
"Don't think we're defenseless."
I say it right by his ear as I grip his arm firmly.
Still under the effect of the spells, I pull away and reappear farther ahead, where my mother emerges along the trail.
She looks at us.
"What are you doing here?"She says, narrowing her eyes at Brom.
"Nothing. I was just warning an old man that curiosity can kill the cat."
My mother looks at me and sighs.
"You scared him, didn't you?"
I make a face, but I can tell she's smiling.
"Well, it was either me or Father, and I don't think he would've stopped at just a warning."
I catch a faint blush on my mother's face, but I'd rather not know.
"Alright. You've been warned. Go on with your life, and we'll go on with ours."
I say this as I walk away with my mother.
I saw his hands trembling. I know he won't stay away for long, but at least we'll have some breathing room.