Dearest Bertram,
It is very important that you return home as soon as possible. Something has happened and I want to tell you in person exactly what it is. I know it�s asking a lot, but I need you here with me right now.
Love,
Mother
Bertram sighed and stuffed the folder back into his pocket. He�d already explained to his teachers that there was a family emergency and he had to leave. He just wished he knew what was wrong.
Sighing again, Bertram packed his bags and headed off to the port, so he could catch the next ship back to Equisetia. Whatever was wrong, it had to be very important if his mother was interrupting his bardic training. Within an hour, the young man was heading back to Equisetia, the realm his family called home.
***
Bertram stepped off the ship and glanced around. He smiled when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd of people that was greeting the newly arrived passengers. Grabbing his bags, he rushed over to Emmett, a family friend and his father�s partner.
�Emmett,� he greeted happily, as soon as he was close to the older man. �Mother sent you to pick me up?�
Emmett nodded and took Bertram�s bags. �She�s waiting for you in the carriage, Bertram.�
Noting the older man�s serious demeanor, Bertram frowned. �What�s wrong?� he asked softly.
Emmett frowned. �I think it�s best that your mother tell you that, son,� he stated quietly.
Bertram nodded and followed along behind the older man. It suddenly dawned on him, that Emmett had mentioned that his mother was waiting in the carriage. Where was his father? Not on a mission, or Emmett wouldn�t be here.
Following behind the man who was like an uncle to him, Bertram chewed his lip thoughtfully. The only logical explanation was that something had happened to his father. They all knew there were risks involved in the family business � that was part of the reason that Bertram was training to be a bard and not an agent. Having one son in the family business was enough for his mother to worry about, without having both of them risking their lives on a daily basis.
Bertram�s worst fears were confirmed when he saw his mother in the carriage. She was dressed completely in black, as a sign of mourning. The young man froze and blinked back tears that came unbidden to his eyes.
Emmett noticed right away that young Silverwebb had stopped and turned to regard him. Seeing the stricken look on his face was heart-wrenching enough, but when Bertram locked eyes with him, he almost dissolved into tears himself.
�Papa?� Bertram whispered.
The older man sighed. �You need to hear this from your mother, Bertram,� he said firmly. �She needs you right now and you have to be strong for her.�
The young man sniffled and took a deep breath. With a nod, he wiped his eyes and said, �Okay.�
Emmett nodded and led Bertram the rest of the way to the carriage. While he stowed the young man�s luggage, Bertram climbed into the carriage with his mother.
�Hello, Dear,� Catherine Silverwebb said softly.
�Mother,� Bertram started, in an equally soft voice. �You � you had something to tell me?�
Catherine nodded. �Your father was killed attempting to stop a ring of counterfeiters,� she said briefly. Her son nodded, she knew he�d figured out that much. There was more that he couldn�t have figured out and she wasn�t quite sure how to tell him. Although he hid it well, Bertram was the most sensitive of her five children.
Sighing deeply, she took his hands in her own and brought his chin up so he was looking her in the eye. �There�s more,� she said sadly.
Bertram licked his lips and sniffled softly. �What is it?� he asked in a tremulous voice.
Catherine looked down at her son�s hands and laid her other hand on top of them. �Edwin was captured by pirates while undercover on the docks. The service has no idea where he is, or if he�s even alive.� She looked up and noticed that Bertram had closed his eyes, as though that would absorb some of the shock.
When he opened them, he didn�t seem like the frightened young man who�d climbed into the carriage with her. Instead, he seemed to have drawn strength from somewhere deep inside. �Well,� he said softly. �Someone has to try and find him and someone needs to make sure you, Charity, Sarah and Piper are taken care of.�
�Bertram�� his mother started, guessing where he was going.
The young man smiled weakly. �It�s alright, Mother,� he said. �I don�t have to stop learning music, I just need to change my path a little.�
�Do you know what you�re saying?� Emmett asked, entering the conversation.
Bertram looked at him and nodded. �If I�m going to stand a chance of finding Edwin,� he said. �I have to join the Defense Wardens. How soon can I sign up?�
�Right after the funeral,� Emmett replied softly.
The young man smiled slightly. �Don�t look so glum, Emmett. It�s not the end of my life as a bard, just the start of a new life. One that will hopefully help me find my brother and may help other people in the process.�
�A new life,� Catherine repeated. �For all of us.�
End