Chapter One
Leaving Home
As silent as I could manage, I untied Shadow Star from his stall and led him outside. I felt horribly guilty for doing this, but I didn't want a goodbye scene from Emily. I crept closer to the door.
"Jazz?" A small, timid voice asked from the door. I froze. It looked like there was going to be scene after all.
"Emily, go back to bed. You should be asleep." I hissed into the darkness. My five - year old sister appeared from the darkness, a candle in her hand, illuminating her face and her wavy blond hair.
"You should be asleep too," she snapped stubbornly, her eyes narrowing. Then her eyes snapped open in shock when she saw that I had supplies on Shadow Star's saddle bags.
"You're signing up to fight, aren't you? You're too young," she accused me, glaring. I sighed. Here we go. I took a deep breath.
"I know, but I'm almost eighteen anyway, and since I'm tall for my age, no one will ever notice." I shot back, my words coming out a bit more sharper then I meant them to. She noticed, and her face crumpled. I sighed, tied Shadow Star up again and picked her up before she could start crying.
I silently carried her upstairs as quietly and quickly as I could. Halfway up, she started sobbing into my shoulder with her arms around my neck. I had to pry her off when I tried to put her in her bed.
"You w…won't come back. I'll never see you again," she sputtered silently. I sat down on the bed next to her.
"Of course we'll see each other again. Someday." I promised, knowing that even if I died on the front, we would still see each other someday. Somewhere…
"Promise," she demanded, still not satisfied. I smiled and hugged her again.
"I promise. Now promise me you'll be a good girl and do what you're told." I murmured into her ear. She nodded in agreement.
"Write in your diary every day. I want a full account of what happened in my absence when I return home." I reminded her, referring to the periwinkle blue diary I had made for her fifth birthday.
"I love you, Jasper. You're the best big brother ever." She whispered, kissing my cheek. I hugged her, and then set her in her bed.
I waited until I was positive that she was sleeping. Then I blew out her candle and slipped unnoticed downstairs to the stable once again. I untied Shadow Star and mounted him outside.
It started drizzling as I reined in Shadow Star and galloped off to the house that was half a mile away from my house. I needed one more promise to be made on Emily's behalf.
As soon as I reached the big white house, I tied Shadow Star to the post outside and knocked on the door. Instead of the maid that usually opened it, a grizzly old man with gray hair and mustache and beard threw the door open.
"I heard you riding up, Whitlock. Make it snappy. I want to sleep well tonight because I have an important business meeting in the morning and I want to be sharp and awake." He growled at me. Then he noticed Shadow Star.
"You're signing up. You're too young. Take my advice and wait another year," he accused me in the same way Emily had.
"Yes, I'm signing up, and no, I'm not taking your advice and waiting." I snapped in an equally harsh voice. His left eye twitched.
"What do you want, boy? Spit it out." He growled. I exhaled sharply.
"I want you to promise me that you'll watch my family while I'm gone. My mother, my sister, the staff, all of them I want you to watch. Please, Mr. Thompson. They all mean a lot to me." I pleaded to him. I saw his expression soften.
"Very well, Jasper. I'll watch your family. But please do hurry back. I hate seeing Emily look sad." He answered softly.
"Thank you, Mr. Thompson. It means more to me than you could ever know." I thanked him softly, trying not to betray the tears welling in my voice.
"Just take care, Jasper. War is ugly business." Mr. Thompson warned, patting my shoulder. I felt his eyes on my back as I mounted Shadow Star and rode off into the distance.