Crystal Throne (Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

where it had been.
    As soon as they were all gathered in front of the shimmering doorway, Thad found himself staring at the scion on the other side. “I will open the doorway,” Humanius said looking around. “Let the scion enter first. While there is strong magical energy gathered here, it will not be enough to sustain it for long. Once it has fallen I will reopen the doorway so that we may enter through it.”
    Everyone moved back from the doorway as Humanius and Belaroan working together pulled it apart. It looked almost as if they were parting a waterfall. The shimmering stopped in the center and moved outward until it looked as if they were looking through a slightly misty window.
    The second the doorway was completely clear the scion stormed through. The scion’s eyes focused on Bren and it took a step forward, then a second. With each step the scion started to move slower.  By the seventh step, it looked more like a statue then suddenly it crumbled to the ground.
    Thad had watched the odd creature, not though his normal sight, but through his magic. It pulled in vast amounts of magical energy, more than he could ever believe possible. It was not the first time he had seen something draw in magical energy; Avalanche lived the same way, but the amount she pulled in was like a pebble compared to a mountain.
    Walking over, Thad picked up one of the shards of the creatures body. Once it was between his fingers he could feel the immense power that it held. It was like a heartstone, yet more refined. Without even trying, Thad began to think of the things he could do with such gems. He could make enchanted items that were immensely powerful that could work forever without worrying about them losing their charge.
    Slipping a piece of the scion into a pocket inside his cloak Thad moved to stand with the rest of the group.
    With the scion dead, Humanius and his sister once again opened the doorway. It didn’t take as long for the door to open this time, and within moments it was completely open. Humanius was the first to step through quickly followed by the godlings and Bren, then Thad. Belaroan was the last, and as her foot crossed the threshold, the doorway behind her slammed shut.
    Thad turned and looked through the door. He could see the piles of glass on the other side, but it was like looking through a dirty piece of cheap glass. Turning back, Thad took a long look around. It looked like a place straight out of a dream.
    Walking over, Thad bent down and ran his fingers over the grass. It bent and swayed in the wind, but glittered in the sunlight and felt like stone beneath his fingers. Everything was made of gems, from the grass to the very stones beneath his feet.
    There was so much magical energy in the air, Thad could feel it entering his body even without him trying to call it. At first Thad paid it little heed as he walked behind the gods, but before half the day had passed, Thad was finding it hard to breath. It was as if something was pressing down on his chest. It didn’t take him long to figure out what was happening. The magical energy was building up in his body at an alarming rate so he released it. Unlike back home releasing the magical energy wasn’t as easy as simply letting it go, but he had to force it out, which was painful in its own right. Thad looked at Bren and the others who didn’t seem to be affected at all.
    I have spent a lot of time with your son. The amount of magical energy that you just expelled wouldn’t be enough to fill his little finger. Still given enough time I am sure that it would cause trouble for him and the other gods as well.
    At least we know what killed the other humans who had entered the center. Unless you were a mage the magical energy would literally eat you alive. Even if you were a mage, it did a fare job of trying to eat you alive.
    As the night began to fall they picked a place on the side of the road to camp. At first Thad thought that they would simply be