Firstborn of the Frontier

Book Three - Chapter 151


Seeing her sweet baby boy all aglow with magic was always a sight to warm Rachel's heart.

And Howie was her baby boy, no two ways about it. She hadn't birthed him, but she'd done everything else. She'd nursed him, rocked him to sleep, sang him ditties to see his smile, and raised him like her own, which meant they was family in every way that mattered. She didn't need no papers or blood test to prove it, and anyone who knew anything knew it for true. Including Howie, who might well be surlier than a storm cloud with no thunder to strike as he came a skating in alongside the wagon, but he still knew enough to greet her with the smile she loved so much. "I'm back," he said, lifting the corners of his lips in that soft subtle way that eased the tension across his whole face and made him look so much younger than his years.

Which was probably why he didn't smile all that much these days. Her bouncing baby boy had taken on a man's burdens at the tender age of 14 and was still struggling to stand upright beneath the weight of an adult's responsibility. Wasn't fair to burden him like that, but he'd taken them on himself and wouldn't put them down no matter how much she tried to convince him otherwise. Wasn't like the family was really lacking much, though she had to admit all the modern conveniences he'd brung them of late was much appreciated. Not just the Aether powered convection oven and stovetop that she loved so much and would have to save up a whole year for, but all the little things like Aetheric kettles, hot plates, scented candles, silky soaps, and a whole laundry list of minor niceties she'd given up after 'choosing' to come to the Frontier.

Wasn't much of a choice really, freedom here on the Frontier or 7 years in prison followed by a lifetime of scrutiny for 'unlicensed mental manipulation'. Them's the breaks though, because she'd been young, dumb, and all too powerful with her Innate Spells which could be twisted to such dark ends. Ran away from home at 16 after her grandpappy died and went on a scam and shoplift spree to keep herself fed, clothed, and frankly living in luxury for a few months before the cops caught on. Those were all small potatoes, but the real crime they was interested in how she'd 'enslaved' the family she was staying with. Wasn't like she hurt them or forced them to do much of anything really, just made them think she was their daughter and sister so they wouldn't think anything odd about her staying with them, but the real problem was that she done it all too well. There were well-documented detrimental effects of from long-term, sustained Enchantments, many of which Rachel had thrown all about just to keep her captive family, their neighbours, the cashiers, and anyone else she saw on a daily basis from asking too many questions.

It never really hit her until the trial, when her new 'parents' Bryan and Pamela took the stand to plead on her behalf, and cried when she was sentenced guilty all the same. They thought they were helping her out, but in truth, they was proving the prosecutor's case, and once Rachel knew what sort of damage she'd done, she didn't blame them for it one bit. They even showed up on the day of the Advent to hold her close and say goodbye for the very last time, while Rachel's real blood and flesh family hung up the phone when she tried calling.

Yeah, Grandpappy was the one who'd raised her really, not her parents who didn't have no time or inclination for her. Made her feel even worse for messing with Bryan, Pamela, and little Nicky's minds like she had, because they was so sweet and loving as a family. That's the thing about magic that affects emotions, because even though it's magically induced, the emotion still feels real to whoever's feeling them. They say to fake it till you make it, and Rachel didn't need to fake it for long before her new family thought of her as their real daughter, one they then lost a few months later after a quick and dirty trial that ended with her signing on for the Frontier.

Not her proudest moment, but in a way, Rachel was grateful to have been given a second lease on life. That's what it felt like at least, because she walked through the Gate and wound up a few meters away from Uncle Teddy. The man didn't just protect her despite knowing of her past, he taught her everything she needed to know to protect herself, and was more of a father to her than her real parents ever had been. Then she met the love of her life in Raleigh and got three more out of the deal, her sweet, beautiful babies Howie, Tina, and Chrissy.

The eldest of whom was now having a real rough time of it. Growing up, it seemed like Howie would be the easiest to manage, what with Tina's flighty ways and Chrissy's Aether touched sensibilities, but here they were. Tina was on track to become a real Ranger, not just a recruit with a badge on her chest but a bonafide elite soldier specialized in Abby warfare, while Chrissy was sweet and pleasant as could be, always happy to follow the rules so long as she remembered to. Howie though? Howie had gone from being a stickler for the rules like Ming, to a maverick who did as he pleased like Raleigh. Problem was, he wasn't half as forgiving as her husband had been, and far colder than his father, a combination which put him on a slippery, downward slope that had already seen him Exiled and might soon see him arrested, or worse, dead.

Was all that anger he was holding on to, first from his daddy's death and how the Feds trampled all over his good name, and then everything that'd happened ever since. His misadventures on the road, losing his hand, Marcus, and Josie, as well as so much more in between. Howie was fast becoming a shadow of his former self, a dark and angry young man with skills enough to do some real damage and the lacking restraint all youths share at his age. Rachel would know, as she'd been only a little younger when she went on her crime spree, and only eligible for the Prisoner to Pioneer Reform Program because they tried her as an adult. It all worked out in the end though, because she wouldn't trade what she had for the world, though she'd give everything and more to soothe away all her baby boy's hurt, anger, and pains because that's what mothers do.

Should do at least, and everything Rachel Walker-Bradshaw knew about motherhood was learned by doing the opposite of what her mother had done.

So the first words out of her mouth weren't to ask Howie about what he'd done, but to remind him he was loved and treasured like the peach of a prize he was. "Welcome back," she said, giving him a big smile while taking the sight of him in, all calm and competent atop his Floating Disc while locked and loaded for bear. Didn't look like a callow boy of 18, but like the seasoned veteran he truly was, a trailblazing Scout who treated these barren and inhospitable badlands like they was his own backyard. Was so handsome too, especially when he bothered to dress up nice, though his shirt could use the touch of a hot iron and his brown leather duster had seen better days. He still looked good though, not in the burly and rugged American lumberjack aesthetic Rachel herself preferred, or an undeniably striking sort of way either. No, Howie's handsomeness was less about his appearance and more about his vibe, like when you run into a puppy who's just all love and kisses and you couldn't care less about how he looks, even though he was still cute as a button and darling as can be.

Yeah, that was Howie in a nutshell. A sweet puppy who was trying oh so hard to play the part of bloodthirsty wolf. He was good at it, excelled even, but deep down, he'd much rather go back to being that sweet puppy dog again. This wasn't to say he wasn't objectively handsome, because Rachel would fight anyone who dared say otherwise. He just wasn't classically handsome by American standards, lacking the hyper-masculine features folks typically looked for. He didn't have no square jaw, but a strong, well defined one that was sleek and elegant even, combined with prominent cheekbones that could use a whole lot more padding to smooth them out some.

In order to do just that, she slathered a half bar of pemmican over a piece of hardtack, more than twice what the rest of them were eating. That was a full day's worth of calories packed into the pemmican alone, and Howie was eating this twice daily, but he still looked like he was losing weight with all his zipping and zooming about. They was close enough to town to not worry too too much about blowing through all of their rations, and even if they did, they'd either be less than a day's ride from town or in so much trouble that rations were far from the top of the list.

Besides, Howie really needed to put on some weight, because it wasn't healthy for a boy his age to be so gangly. Didn't look half bad as he was, but he'd look so much better with some more heft to him. Even more so when he smiled in silent thanks for the meal. Another soft smile, one that really showed off his warm, brown eyes, which were often so full of life and emotion when he allowed it show through, and you couldn't help but be drawn in by them. Plus he had those big, broad shoulders which he did a disservice by slumping them so often, and a lean frame that could use a whole lot of filling out too but would be right proper athletic once it did.

Then there was the cool and almost distant manner in which he treated folks. Friendly, but professional almost, with that marked line drawn in the sand to let everyone know where he stood and how he expected everyone else to be on the other side of it. Worked well in a professional setting, but not so great the rest of the time, because then he came off as insincere when making small talk and such. Course, that sort of behaviour also drove the girls crazy, especially the pretty ones who were so used to seeing men light up with little more than a glance and trip all over themselves to help them, only to run into Howie who would rather stare at the gun on their hip, the bow in their hair, or the fox in their arms rather than their more prominent feminine assets.

Rachel was proud to say she'd raised a proper gentleman, and knew he'd be a real heartbreaker if he ever figured out the effect his nonchalant apathy had on a certain type of woman. Like Jinfeng, or that other girl Kacey, both girls who were no doubt interested but conflicted about it. Then there was Sarah Jay, who all but idolized Howie, as well she should given all that he could do and had done, both professionally and for her personally. Rachel also knew from sending letters to Simone and Alice that there were plenty of young girls who were smitten with the Firstborn even though they'd never met Howie, treating him the way they treated celebrities and rock stars when they'd been the same age, and Rachel secretly loved to see it.

Her baby boy was growing into a teenaged heartthrob, though he was too angry and heartbroken to see it. Or maybe he did, considering what he'd gotten up to with Josie and Noora, but one died and broke his heart, while the other shattered it by leaving. Wasn't no helping it though, because that was young love, and though Rachel's heart ached to see him so distraught, she hoped to get him back on his feet soon enough since there were still plenty of prospects to be had.

Boy was too young to have loved and lost and never love again, though he might well try it just to be like his daddy whom he idolized so much.

A problem for another day. For now, she just smiled and watched as he reached out to take Chrissy's hand while he ate to let her know he was back and she was loved. He smiled at Tina too from across the driver's seat, who was riding poor Ivory who was dog tired same as the rest of the horses. Cowie too, but the sweet bull wasn't one to show it, because he knew everyone's safety rested on his shoulders, and much like Howie, that was a burden he happily took on.

"Didn't find them," Howie said with a scowl once he was done with the greetings. "Might've dug in to hide and wait Abby out. Guess they figured the horde would do us in and didn't stick around to watch the show."

Though they all knew he was talking about the Qin who'd riled up the Abby horde, Rachel couldn't help but notice how he refrained from mentioning who 'they' were. Probably because he was a hair's breadth away from using a slur every time he called them 'Qin'. That 'K' was on the tip of his tongue each and every time, which she didn't like much because it meant he wasn't always so careful when she wasn't around. Hard to see her boy harbour so much hate, especially for his own people, but he was having issues separating the people from the race and nation both, so it wasn't no real surprise there. They'd made some progress talking earlier though, which was a few steps in the right direction, but it would take more than a talk to undo all the damage hatred had done to him these last few years, and still more to get him back on track to being the man he wanted to be.

Course, Rachel loved him as he was, though she did wish he'd watch his words more carefully. Was a power in words that people didn't pay enough mind to, in which a simple choice of tone or phrasing could change the whole outcome. It was the difference between 'how much are your bapples', and 'your bapples are how much?", a simple rearrangement of the words but with all the difference in the world, a lesson Rachel learned during her short stint as a 'mind manipulating' witch. It wasn't all in the magic, but also how you phrased your Suggestions or Commands. Lessons she hoped Tina and Chrissy wouldn't have to learn for themselves, for more reasons than one. At least Tina was smarter and more responsible than Rachel had been at that age, and they both had Howie to thank for it.

Then again, Tina could use a few lessons in how to ask nicely, and Rachel had to stifle a shake of her head when her sweet girl asked, "So how much longer we gotta ride before breaking camp?" The girl knew it for a mistake as soon as the words left her lips, because she heard how they made her sound all sorts of whiny. "The horses have been hard pressed is all," she added, looking guilty as sin as she did, "And Sunshine is still favouring his back left leg, so we don't want that to get worse."

"We'll ride for long as we need to until we safe." Howie could use a few lessons in sweet talking too, or maybe a helpful hint to use what he'd already learned more often when talking to his sister. He didn't see how it hurt her so to be spoken to so harshly, especially since her daddy and Uncle Ming were always so sweet and soft spoken around her. If it were anyone else talking to her like that, Tina would shake the tone off like water off a duck, but coming from Howie, his curt attitude was like rubbing sandpaper over open wounds. It's always the ones you love the most who got the power to hurt you, so Rachel gave Howie a look which he pretended not to notice, though he did soften his tone. "I said 'I guess', which means I don't know for sure what them Qin be up to. Could be shadowing us right now, all Invisible, or Settled in Shadows, or moving around in plain sight, just too far away to be spotted. Ain't difficult to track a wagon moving over rough ground even though we hiding our tracks. Could probably do it by sound alone if you had a mind to do it."

Howie said a little more and convinced Tina to hop into the driver's seat instead of riding Ivory, a suggestion Rachel made herself earlier on, but her girl was stubborn and unruly as her papa when she wanted to be. Which Rachel loved to see, because a girl needed spirit and gumption to make it out here, and Tina had both in spades. Unfortunately, Howie was the same way, so when Rachel tried to convince him to hop on too and maybe take a seat in her lap, he just smiled his soft smile and shook his head like she was speaking nonsense. Boy was silly like that, all too fond of putting up barriers where they weren't wanted or needed, like thinking he was gonna sleep in the driver's carriage throughout this whole trip, just out in the open with no roof or walls to shelter him from the elements when there was a perfectly sized wagon to sleep in right there.

Wasn't nothing wrong with a boy of 18 snuggling up with his mama and sisters, and Rachel wouldn't let no one tell her otherwise. Would like to snuggle up right now, because despite all the thrills, tension, and excitement, she was feeling right tuckered and limp as a dishrag. Chrissy was tired too, but she weathered it well, clinging to Rachel's arm and humming a little ditty to herself while drifting in and out of sleep. As for Tina, the poor thing tried so very hard to stay bright and alert, but too many days of missed sleep and too many hours without rest were taking a heavy toll on her mind, one not even the resilience of youth could hold firm against.

So since Tina was too proud to say it, Rachel said it for her. "Well, I dunno how long any of us are gonna last if we don't break camp to rest soon enough." Didn't even have to pretend to look tired, just give him a look that showed how frazzled she really was, and Howie all but recoiled to see it. Sweet boy that he was, he only hesitated for a bit before glancing back with a scowl, no doubt mulling things over until he'd covered every angle and accounted for any and all possibilities.

Which wasn't actually possible. That was Howie's problem. Sometimes he just got in his own way by overthinking things too much. Everyone present needed to rest, even him, because even though he didn't show it, all that running, fighting, and scouting he did took a real mental toll, to say nothing of all the Spells he slung. Only three Second Order Spells, the Spike Growth from earlier and two Pass Without Traces, one from before and one just now to hide their tracks. Add in the Mage Armour he threw on the second he woke up, and that accounted for just over half his Aether tank, which was a little like running half a marathon sometimes, though he never seemed all that winded until he was almost empty. Yeah, Howie might not like to admit he had talent, but he had some real Spellslinging chops that were a cut above average, if not outright spilling over into the level of a bonafide prodigy.

This wasn't to take away from his hard work of course. No, he worked harder than most, but his efforts also went further than most because he understood the magic in ways that couldn't really be explained. Rachel knew this because she herself was the same way, and so were Tina and Chrissy, while Ming said Lina was also like that and could just do more with her Spells than anyone else. Like how Howie could manipulate Detection Spells as easily as raising his hand, when in truth he was shifting the frequency and more than doubling the rate at which them signals moved to glean even more accurate information than what the base Spell provided. Or how he almost never lost Concentration on Spells, not even in the heat of battle, just maintained them in the back of his mind while focused on the fight like singing a song in rounds without hearing anyone else.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

And the best part was, his talent with magic was only a small part of what made him stand out from the pack. "I think we should keep moving for another hour at the very least," he finally answered, turning back to meet her eyes with an apologetic shrug. "Until my Pass Without Trace ends, and then we'll see if Cowie and the horses are up for another hour after that. That'll be the latest, because I know for sure there's a decent place to rest up just over two hours away, while our options within an hour's range ain't the best."

Said like a man who'd made up his mind, and Rachel knew better than to argue. Mostly because he knew his work, and if he changed his mind because of her and something went wrong, then he'd never forgive himself for it. "Alrighty," she said, taking Chrissy's hand and giving it three quick squeezes. "Two hours it is." Chrissy squeezed back, barely aware of what was going on around her as she was more than half asleep, but she still loved her mama something fierce. The sweet girl was having a ball, not really all that concerned about her safety or theirs, because she lived in the moment and whatever may come, would come. Wasn't a bad way to tackle life, just not appropriate for everyone, or anyone who didn't have a close-knit family looking out for them. Chrissy was their little Princess, their darling who'd they'd do anything to protect, because she was pure in ways that no one could match and they loved her dearly as she was.

And in that analogy, Howie was their loyal knight, sworn to protect them all even though he had every right to be prince, king, or emperor if he so pleased, and certainly roles he was suited for. Thing is, instead of luxury and largess, he was drawn to duty and responsibility, because his daddy had instilled in him a work ethic that didn't know how to quit, but Howie wasn't all that much like his daddy. Ming was very much a man who kept his nose to the grindstone and did his best to avoid rocking the boat. In contrast, Howie was a man brimming with curiosity, always tinkering with this or learning that and wondering why folks weren't striving to do the same. Progress and advancement, that's what he was after, while most were just trying to get by, and he didn't understand that sort of struggle the same way he didn't understand why most folks couldn't learn magic as quick as he did.

That's why he'd be wasted following in his daddy's footsteps. Ming was a soldier, the knight Howie so desperately wanted to emulate, but he himself was a trendsetter, trailblazer, and leader even if he didn't know it just yet.

He'd figure it out soon enough though, or life would figure it out for him. That's the way things went, and she hoped it was the former even though it would probably be the latter. Either way, he could handle it, and if he couldn't, he had plenty of family and friends just waiting in the wings ready to help out. He was true to his word too, pulling up to what was probably once a riverbed and parking the wagon inside two hours later on the nose. So he was thinking defense tonight, not awareness, hoping to hide from any would be pursuers instead of keeping an eye out for them all night. Not a terrible idea all things considered, because if Abby or Qin Vanguard were still looking for them, then there wasn't any point in making their job any easier.

"I'll take first watch," Rachel said, after handing out water, pemmican, and hard tack to everyone, including a second serving to Howie who ate it right up because he was already hungry again. "No arguing," she added, giving Tina a look followed by a light tap on the nose and a smile to ease the mood. "You especially, as you been up for long enough and need to get your beauty sleep before your forehead erupts into wrinkles."

Silly girl that she was, Tina still wanted to argue, but she didn't have no legs to stand on so she just pouted a bit while rubbing her forehead in concern. As for Howie, he was too smart to come at her direct, just glanced around while beaming his Detection this way and that to make sure they was really in the clear. "Wake me for second shift in 2 hours?" he asked, which wasn't really a question and wasn't hardly enough sleep for a growing boy, but before she could get a word in edgewise, he went right on to explain, "Don't know about them Qin, but Abby be out in strength tonight. Some are moving in our general direction, but not direct or fast enough to warrant too too much concern. Might could they be headed home for the burrows they done crawled out of, or might be settin' a trap to surround and encircle us." Any and all arguments Rachel might've had died then and there, because Howie wanted to be woken in two hours to check up on Abby, and wasn't any one of them who could do it better than him.

"Don't worry," he added, smiling to see Rachel's concern. "A quick Catnap plus two hours puts me almost back at a full tank, and I can sleep when you all safe and sound at home." 'You all'. Not 'we all', which was a whole other kettle of fish, but he glossed over it without blinking and turned to Chrissy to ask, "You up for it, Princess? I know you did some serious Spell Slinging today, but you think you got another Catnap in you?"

Chrissy perked right up to hear it and nodded emphatically, all too happy and cheery to be of help to her dear knight. He was all smiles and encouragement too, so sweet, caring, and affectionate, and it occurred to Rachel that this was the real Howie, the side that didn't no one ever see, the sweet baby boy she raised and loved so dear who kept his best side hidden away from the world. Because the world wasn't kind, and when it came time to get to work, he put on the mask again, one of a cold, callous, and compassionless killer who he pretended to be because he thought that'd make life easier for him. That's the Firstborn that other people saw, like them Scouts he hauled out of the wagon while Tina watched his back and Rachel watched over Chrissy. Them Qin Vanguard thought themselves at the mercy of a killer, and truth was, he might well be one, though at least Howie was taking prisoners instead of executing them out of hand. Even fed them their own rations, which didn't look half as good as pemmican and hardtack. A real low bar to limbo under, but one constant among all governments was that they'd skimp and save wherever they could at the cost of the average man.

As for Howie, he brung them Qin out one by one to do their business, then set all three of them up inside a little nook in the riverbend. Wasn't much more than a divot that might offer some shelter from the cold winds, and a blanket for each to keep them from freezing to death, but it wouldn't be comfortable in the least. Didn't none of the Vanguard complain though, which was good because Howie was already showing more generosity than he otherwise might have if his Aunty Ray wasn't sat here watching his every move. Fool boy. Even though he didn't tell her nothing, she knew more or less what he was up to out there. Folks talk, and Rachel knew how to listen, so she was able to piece together most of his misadventures out on the Frontier, so there wasn't no hiding nothing from her. Nor did she judge him for it, because it was a hard life to live out there, and she'd be much happier if he gave off wandering all about and just settled down at home for a bit.

Or his home at least, out by the quay now. Wasn't really a home just yet, only houses he owned and maintained more or less, but he'd turn it into a home eventually as soon as he decided he ought to. Howie wasn't one to live like his daddy, with no creature comforts or decorations to be had. Just look at the upgrades he done made to the wagon once he realized he didn't have to live that way. Had some padded seats, an awning to block the sun, a fold-out 'shower stall' at the back that had thus far gone unused because it was too cold for a horse bath, and so much more. Like Rachel said earlier, Ming was a man content with good enough, but Howie was one who always had an eye out for any improvements he might make, because that's just the sort of person he was.

Didn't care much for the comfort and well-being of his prisoners much though, seeing how he left them bound and gagged before Warding them in with an Alarm and no doubt threatening to shoot them dead should any one of them cross it. Even set a tripwire on the other side of his Ward to really ruin their escape, though Rachel was of the mind that if they wanted to run, then best to let them. Would've been better off cutting them loose as soon as they cleared the Abby horde round about two hours ago, but Rachel hadn't thought about it until now. For that reason, she stopped Howie on his way back and kept her voice low while asking, "So what exactly are you planning to do with them then? Hand 'em over to the Sherriff or somethin'?"

Which might be something, seeing how them Vanguard done violated the Accords, but that meant giving the Qin Republic a seat at the table when it came to judging those men for their crimes. Which might not be the worst thing really, since it would at the very least open up a dialogue between the two Nations. One they could use to talk about those unwarranted attacks on the new towns being built south of Redeemer's Keep. They'd spent the better part of two decades in peace and harmony, so it was strange for the Qin to ramp up the aggression out of nowhere then claim they had nothing to do with it even though they wasn't working all that hard to hide it.

Was almost like they was being spiteful for no real reason than because they could, and Rachel couldn't make heads or tails of it. Nor could wiser heads, but a prisoner exchange could be the opportunity them Federal diplomats needed to get the dialogue flowing. Howie wasn't all that politically minded though, as he just shrugged and said, "I figured on cutting 'em loose once we close enough to the watchtowers and sendin' 'em on their way. Be difficult enough for them to make it home without any weapons, but they got a good enough chance if they play it safe."

Well, it wasn't high-minded politics, but it also wasn't as heartless as people made him seem, and Rachel was right proud of her boy for being so nonchalant about it. Again, this was the real Howie, not the persona he put on to deal with all the ne'er-do-wellers he ran into out on the open road, the Ronald Jacksons and Michael D'Ippolitos who'd chew him up and spit him out if he gave them so much as an inch. Rachel knew the type, and had to resort to illegal Spells to defend herself more often than once over the years, though not even magic could set a twisted personality straight. Tina would learn for herself soon enough, and Rachel was just glad to know her baby girl was gonna be stationed at home in New Hope, so that if anything should happen, then her mama was close by to help.

Wanted to go to bat for Howie too, but he wouldn't let her, told her not to make a target of herself and just leave things be because he didn't want to live in New Hope anyways. A lie that, but not too far off from one. Might well have chosen to leave on his own in good time, but getting Exiled was a whole different kettle of fish, one that he no doubt resented all the more since he loved the town so much.

Easier to hate a place than admit you loved it more than it loved you. Rachel worried for her sweet boy, living out his days all by his lonesome out on the quay, and if he didn't get his rear into gear and start populating them houses, then she was of a mind to leave the house to Tina and move her and Chrissy up there. Wouldn't be easy, and Tina might feel a little resentful playing second string to Howie again, but he needed them more than she did, because he didn't have no one else.

"Two hours," Howie reminded her, giving her a smile that said he was wise to her tricks, but he'd barely scratched the surface really. She let him think he caught her though, so she looked guilty and pouted something fierce. "I mean it Aunty Ray. Two hours. Abby far enough away that they can make it over to us right quick, but they're at least two hours away. You wake me up then, and we'll have time enough to get away if they do happen to have a lock on us, but any longer and we might be forced into a fight."

That did it, because she didn't want her boy risking his neck to keep them safe and sound. "Two hours," she said, with the solemn intonation of a promise. "And not a minute later." But the clock wouldn't start until he was finished with his Catnap, because the Spell didn't do all that much for the body since all of its efficacy was focused on the mind. 2 hours and 10 minutes of sleep was hardly enough for a growing boy, and if those 10 minutes meant the difference between life and death, then that was a gamble she was willing to take. Better to stand and fight when they was still mostly fresh, including Cowie who got his hooves cleaned and washed before Howie lifted him up into the wagon proper, because he was gonna get the benefits of Catnap since he'd probably slung the most Spells out of all of them.

Was easy to forget all his shrinking and growing was at the cost of a Second Order Spell, but what most didn't see was Cowie using Enhance Aspect – Bull's Strength or Bear's Endurance to bolster his strength and stamina respectively. Only one at a time of course, since it required Concentration, but he wouldn't have the legs to run all the livelong day and night without them Spells helping him along. He was the real star of this show, and Howie didn't forget it, which was why he spoiled that bull something fierce by feeding him a handful of candies. Was a real treat to see baby Cowie's eyes go big and wide as he lapped up them treats and crunched them down something fierce, so happy and relaxed to be eating some sweets and cuddled up in the lap of the person he loved most.

Which was Howie, no two ways about it, no matter how he might mutter or grumble. Cowie was his bull and his alone, which was why he was fine moving out to the quay with him instead of making a big fuss about staying in New Hope with Chrissy. And make no mistake, Cowie could've made a fuss if he wanted to, because that bull was smarter than most gave him credit. Still a bull in the end, but a Magical Bull who could count and understood as many words as your average dog if not more, because he was something of a genius compared to other cattle and more than capable of making his mind known if he wasn't happy with his current living arrangements.

He was pleased as peaches though, and soon snoring in Howie's arms while Chrissy and Tina slept next to them, looking so sweet and darling Rachel couldn't stop herself from sneaking a few snapshots for posterity's sake. Tina even broke out her big, bright smile, as she was the only one who wasn't included in the Catnap and would have to fall asleep the good old-fashioned way. Knowing Howie though, he'd take his 2 hours sleep and only plan for 2 more, meaning he'd probably do a 6-hour watch if all was clear when Rachel woke him up. Silly man, always trying to take on more than his fair share, and it wasn't like he was doing Tina any favours by babying her like that.

Ming was the same way. He pushed Howie hard, harder than he should've maybe, but with Tina and Chrissy he was all sugar and smiles, full of praise for whatever they did and no real encouragement to strive for more. That's what Tina was missing, a reason to push herself harder, because things came too easily for her most of the time, and when they didn't, she usually just gave up. Still got high marks in all her classes with boot camp and the subsequent Ranger recruit program, but she wasn't earmarked for officer school like that other boy, Michael Donovan, or like Howie most certainly would've been. Tina had the skills, but not the drive or focus, and Uncle Teddy knew it good and well so he didn't pull no strings for her. Was the right thing to do really, because they wouldn't be doing Tina no favours by putting her in position to fail, and there wasn't nothing wrong with just being a Ranger without ever working your way up the chain of command.

Much like her daddy would've, because he didn't even want to be a Captain. Uncle Teddy wasn't spoilt for choice back then though, and Raleigh was one of the few who actually had the chops. He taught her a fair bit about Enchantment and how to avoid all the most common pitfalls, not to mention how to stop hating that part of herself. He was a fine man who lifted her up out of a pit of despair and gave her two beautiful, bouncing baby girls to love and adore, while being the best dad he knew how to be to all three of their kids. Yes, three, because even though Howie had a loving daddy in Ming, wasn't nothing in the rules that said you couldn't have two, and Raleigh was more than happy to play his part and love Howie like his own. There was so much of Raleigh's mannerisms in Howie, from they way he'd sometimes just throw on a smile to put people off of their game, or how he'd sometimes start a rambling on about not much of anything but still manage to string you along just because of the way he said things.

They looked so sweet, Rachel's three babies all laid out together like that, and she held onto that mental image as she closed the door to let them sleep. Howie had been all against it at the start, and utterly flustered too, but that's only because Ming put the idea into his head that it wasn't right for a family to be so close. Rachel's parents never wanted to cuddle, never wanted to see much of her at all really, but she had friends who were close with their parents and siblings the way you was supposed to. Grandpappy was always happy to cuddle too, and they spent many an afternoon sitting on the porch just making music and throwing around Illusions. That's what she wanted for her own family, so she was happy to share the wagon with Howie, because he was her baby and there wasn't nothing wrong with it. As for leaving him with Tina and Chrissy, he was much too responsible to get into anything, and Tina and Chrissy didn't know much of anything about the birds and the bees. They understood it as a concept, but it didn't hold much interest for either of them, which was really something of a blessing in disguise. If Tina had been boy crazy as Rachel had been at her age, then she'd be spending all her days fighting them off with a stick, while Chrissy was as stubborn and bullheaded as Ming and probably wouldn't take kindly to being told she wasn't allowed to date.

Because the sort of boy that would show interest in a girl like Chrissy wasn't the sort Rachel wanted hanging around her Princess. Besides, the last thing they needed was Howie getting put away for murder because some fool tried to take advantage. Maybe when Chrissy was older, and the fellas around her were similarly matured, then they could talk about love if she was interested, but they'd have to play it by ear and see how it all rolled out. At least Rachel could rest easy knowing Howie and Tina would look after Chrissy, but that wasn't really fair to either one of them. They had dreams to pursue and adventures to partake in, and they couldn't do none of that if they was stuck at home playing nanny to Chrissy. That's why Rachel had been teaching Chrissy how to handle her Spells, especially when she awakened Psychic Scream so early which was a sign of things to come.

Yeah, Chrissy had most Enchantment Spells, but she didn't favour the subtle, deceptive ones. No, she leaned hard into the hammer Spells, the ones that hit you hard and left you dazed and confused for days, like Beguile, Paranoia, Mortify and all them other direct Enchantments that were only good for one thing and one thing only. Wasn't fair for their sweet Princess to be so burdened by her Spells, but Rachel wasn't gonna sit idly by and let her daughter make the same mistakes she had. Telling Chrissy not to use her Spells was like telling a rooster not to crow, so better to let her sling them Spells while under strict supervision. They kept it a secret between the two of them, since Tina wasn't all that great at keeping secrets and Howie would be upset to hear it, so Rachel was glad he wasn't asking any uncomfortable questions and had just chalked it up to Chrissy's natural talents.

Of course, talent could only get you so far, and Rachel felt inclined to show hers as she settled in for her turn at watch. Minor Illusion was one of those Spells that you could get a whole lot of mileage out of even though it didn't seem all that impressive when you read off the tin. The Cantrip created an illusion of sound or image of an object within a 10m range, one that cannot exceed more than 1.5 squared meters in volume. Get real good at it though, and you could create moving images or sustained sounds, and with a little more practice, you could make them so lifelike to perceive that most wouldn't think twice about it. More to the point, while the limit in volume could never be changed, there wasn't nothing preventing you from spreading that 1.5 squared metres out in a plane. A thin plane, one that encircled the wagon and camp both to form something like an invisible projection screen upon which she put on her Illusory play.

Sure, this meant her Illusions were paper thin and easily seen through from the side, or at least it would be if she wasn't a top tier Illusionist who understood how to give images the illusion of depth. Anyone could do it really, like taking a square in the sand and drawing an overlapping square before connecting the corners with lines to draw a cube. The image itself was still flat as the ground it was drawn in, but you still saw a cube no matter which way you looked at it. That was the general gist of her work here on the screen, projecting images with the illusion of depth using Minor Image and years upon years of practice to make it look like she was doing a patrol around camp. She wasn't though, she was just sat up on the riverbank where she had the best view of the area and didn't need to worry about being spotted since she was hidden safely behind her Cantrip.

That wasn't all she did. Just to be, she slowly and gradually shifted her projected illusions to the left, moving fractions of an inch at a time and never too much at once. What was once an overlying image soon moved itself aside, so that anyone targeting the wagon would miss outright because what they saw was offset from what was really there. Was easier said than done, but wasn't all that complex, and even if someone was watching them close, the change was so gradual you could blink and miss it, and any future discrepancies waved off as poor memory or shifting shadows.

Which was the real trick behind Illusions. People wanted to believe their own senses, so you just had to give them a good enough reason to. Took a lot to break that suspension of disbelief, because wasn't no one checking and double checking everything in reality to make sure it was really there. While her efforts wouldn't change much in a big pinch, she figured every little bit would count, and if them Qin were really out there with a mind to hunt her family down, then she'd pull out every trick in the book to make sure her family was kept safe.

Raleigh died far too young from a freak accident, while Ming was gunned down by the people he so very much wanted to protect. Now it was all on Howie's shoulders because he'd taken it on for himself, but Rachel was of a mind to show her son that she wasn't no wilting flower who needed delicate care. No, she was Rachel Walker-Bradshaw, former felon, current Ranger reserve, and the Siren who could sing a man to his death and spin an Illusion for Abby from which there was no escape, so it was high time she showed Howie why he ought to put some respect on her name.

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