The Pillars of Ponderay Read Online Free PDF Page B

pushing them hard, due to the emergency.”
    â€œEmergency?” Birdie asked.
    Lucinda shook her head. “I can’t say for sure what’s going on. But I know that the Core is changing, and not for the better.”
    â€œThe Path Hider gave us a warning, too,” Leroy said, sitting back on the gondola bench. “So what’s really the problem?”
    â€œThere’s an Imbalance, isn’t there?” Albert asked.
    â€œYou can tell us,” Birdie chided.
    Lucinda’s voice lowered to a whisper, and her eyes grew as large as two moons. What she said next chilled Albert all the way down to his toes.
    â€œIt would be in your best interest to stick together. Train hard, and be prepared for the worst. Darkness is coming, children. And I fear that the Core may not be ready to face it.”
    She stared into the distance, a faraway look in her eyes. Kimber coiled tighter around her neck. Before Albert could say another word, Lucinda waved her arm. “Be safe,” she said. “And be careful who you turn towhen times get hard. Now move along, you three. The Core needs all the help it can get.”
    The gondola carted them away.
    The three friends sat back in their seats, and not another word was spoken until they reached the final platform, where massive double doors stood before them—the entrance to the Main Chamber of the Core.
    â€œThat’s two sets of warnings in one day,” Leroy’s voice cracked.
    Birdie looked back and forth at the two boys, then pointed at the doors to their right. “What do you think we’re going to find when we get inside?”
    It was Albert who stood up first. “I don’t know,” he said. He straightened his shirt, tightened the laces on his boots, and smiled back at his friends. “But there’s only one way to find out.”
    He leaped from the gondola, and the others followed behind.
    The doors to the Core seemed to notice their presence, because as soon as Albert’s hand touched the old, ancient wood, there was a creak and a groan as they unlocked.
    â€œHere we go,” Albert said.
    Birdie cracked her knuckles. Leroy swallowed, hard. Farnsworth pawed at the ground like a racehorse ready to run.
    Together, the three friends pressed hard, putting all their strength into it, and the doors to Albert’s favoriteplace in the entire world (really, inside the world) opened wide. Farnsworth raced between Albert’s legs, disappearing into the chaos of the Core.
    Albert was home.
    Even though Albert had been here before, the Main Chamber still felt like walking into a dream.
    Three glittering streams flowed across the floor, leading to ancient doors that were the gateways to the three Realms. Overhead, a wolf with eagle’s wings perched on the giant copper chandelier that lit the cave. The room was warm and open, and as Albert took a step farther inside, he felt lightness in his heart that could only come from a place as magical and wonderful as this.
    â€œWe made it,” Albert breathed.
    An older girl ran past, with a flaming orange and red bird perched atop her head. Its feathers left a trail of sparks in their wake.
    â€œHey, that’s a phoenix!” Leroy said. “She didn’t have that last time!”
    â€œI love your bird!” Birdie yelled after the girl. Her voice echoed in the cavernous space.
    Throngs of people were scurrying past, both young Balance Keepers and adults alike. The last time Albert had set foot in here, there was laughter. People playing games, boys and girls diving into the rivers and riding on the CoreFish.
    All of that was missing now.
    â€œSomething’s different,” Birdie said. “Lucinda was right.”
    â€œIt’s so quiet,” Leroy added. “Remember how it felt last time?”
    Birdie nodded. “It was like walking into a storybook. Where are all of our friends? Why does everyone look so serious?”
    Albert looked