The sea wind picked up, and dark clouds gathered. Perched among towering mountain cliffs, the Storm Temple stood in the eye of the storm.
Rain poured outside. Faye gazed at the dark, unlit altar of the Windcallers in the distance, lost in thought.
The Tidal Conclave had not summoned a storm, and the weather had been calm during the day, without any natural sign of rising winds.
With nature and tidal magic ruled out, Faye could not imagine why the storm had arrived so suddenly.
"Adept Fern, didn't you go to the Temple for the Reinforced Barrier lesson?"
Fern had joined the Tidal Conclave at the same time as Faye, and they were on fairly good terms. He was also one of Brannon's few friends.
There were some things Fern had not kept from Faye, either.
"Go on ahead." Fern waved the apprentices off, signaling for them to return to their quarters.
Once no one else remained nearby, Fern and Faye sheltered from the rain in a small shrine and talked about what had happened that day.
"His Lordship canceled the Reinforced Barrier lesson. I'd originally planned to report our latest research results to him," said the burly, bear-like man, whose arms were thicker than Faye's thighs.
The Reinforced Barrier lesson covered the latest research into protective magic for warships. The Ironboat Adepts, led by Fern, had adapted it into a power individuals could wield.
It created a small, temporary barrier that could withstand most incoming damage.
It was similar to lessons in the School of Protection in Arcane Magic, but its power came from the Storm Tide, placing it in a different category.
Ordinarily, Faye would certainly have made time to exchange insights with Fern about the Reinforced Barrier spell. Not today. A storm was closing in, and something