Storm Clouds Gather

By Steven D. Brewer

After the Queen of Belleriand encounters an etheric anomaly that threatens the airship, Revin is abducted. But by whom? And why?

Revin must use all of his newly-acquired skills as a pirate — and more — in order to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Water Dragon Publishing
• Release date: Jun 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957146478

Steven D. Brewer

Steven D. Brewer has been a fan of science fiction and fantasy stories for as long as he can remember. He still remembers getting scolded for not reading chapter books in fourth grade because he was avidly consuming The Hobbit late at night, by flashlight under his covers. And he probably got his copy from his older brother and most important mentor.As an author, Steven identifies diverse obsessions that underlie his writing. His early interest in natural history, life science, and environmentalism he learned from his father, an ecologist and ornithologist. He attributes seeing his mother study German for his abiding passion for languages that led him to major in Spanish (as well as Biology) and subsequently learn Esperanto and use it for international correspondence and travel. His fascination with Japanese culture grew from writing haiku and haibun in Esperanto. And his mania for information technology and the Internet led him back to graduate school where he earned a Masters in Earth Science and a PhD in Science Education.His scattered interests led to an eclectic employment history. He did farm work and food service growing up in southwest Michigan. He has worked as a large-animal caretaker, an archeological faunal analyst, a hunter of the fastest lizards in the world, a gas-station attendant, a bilingual teacher’s aide for a migrant-worker education program, and an edutainer with live animals and a portable planetarium. For the past quarter century, he has served as a non-tenure-system faculty member in higher education.Steven currently teaches scientific writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with his extended family.

Book preview

Storm Clouds Gather

Book Three of Revin's Heart

Steven D. Brewer

Copyright © 2022 by Steven D. Brewer

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for the purpose of review and/or reference, without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.

Cover design copyright © 2022 by Niki Lenhart

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Published by Water Dragon Publishing

waterdragonpublishing.com

An imprint of Paper Angel Press

paperangelpress.com

978-1-957146-47-8 (EPUB)

FIRST EDITION

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Author’s Note

In the first two parts of Revin's Heart, our hero is thrown into circumstances where he is able to demonstrate his courage and his ability to think on his feet. In this installment, Revin begins to prepare himself for the trials to come, although the first trial comes much sooner than anyone expects — and is his toughest challenge yet. But we ultimately learn several key pieces of information that require us to reassess everything that's happened up until now. And we begin to see the shape of the events to come.

There are also light-hearted moments. And moments of introspection, where Revin finds himself trying to understand his own heart. And what he really wants.

Once again, I'm eternally grateful to Water Dragon Publishing for serializing Revin's Heart and giving me the latitude to tell this story my way. And to my fellow writers on the Island of Misfit Toys who have been endlessly supportive and encouraging.

Thank you!

Storm Clouds Gather

Storm ahead, Cap’n, Revin called.

Will came forward to the observation deck of the Queen of Belleriand and looked over Revin’s shoulder. A towering cumulonimbus thunderhead spread out dead ahead and above them. Flashes of lightning flickered here and there, illuminating different parts of the roiling clouds, then tracing the sky in long tongues of light.

It’s a big storm, Will said. We’re not going over that one. We’ll need to tack around. Which way is it moving?

It’s moving west by southwest, headed right for us, Cap’n.

Grip! Will called.

Yes, Will?

Have the remmers take us north. Let’s give this one a wide berth.

Aye, aye, Will! Grip said, and headed back to the remmer deck.

Revin waited for the Queen to tack toward the north, but nothing happened. A moment later, Grip ran in, breathless.

The remmers can’t find any etheric streams! They’re all gone!

Will sprinted back to the remmer deck and Revin followed. The remmers used large lenses, mounted on poles that ran from the deck to the ceiling, to locate the etheric streams and bind them with a towline to a pole. But they searched everywhere with the lenses, unable to find streams to tie to.

Will pulled out his monocle and studied the sky for streams first on one side and