Brennan exhaled slowly, as if releasing centuries of held breath. The maturity in his gaze deepened, making him appear far older than the youthful form he inhabited. He gave a small nod, confirming Jerrick's suspicion.
"Who bound the Queen Mother?" Jerrick pressed. "Was it the one-eyed seer?"
Brennan's lips curled into a bitter scoff. "As if she had any true power," he spat. "The only strength she possesses is what we—the men of the Theodulf family—granted her. Her power lies in deception, in her venomous words that twist truths into weapons. We gave her that power by believing in her lies."
Jerrick felt a sharp pang in his chest as his ancestor's words hit home. He knew it was true. The seer's power was not in her visions but in the way she wielded words like a knife, sowing fear and doubt until they became reality. By falling prey to her manipulations, the Theodulf men had given her the strength to bind even the Queen Mother.
