Silver pressed his hand to the orb on the staff and the light went out, plunging the small shed into a black darkness. He wait for his eyes to adjust before he noticed a doorway to the left of him. Pulling out the small brass key from his pocket, he put it in the lock and turned the key. The door swung open silently to let him into the outside. With slow and silent steps he turned east and glanced back and forth, ever shadow seemed to be a blade coming down upon him. An owl hooted faintly from above him, he jumped with a loud curse. The bird looked at him slowly, turning his head slowly.

The bird honored by Saradomin still lives in this land, Silver thought as he lifted a hand out to the young bird. It with a hoot jumped from the branch and landed lightly on his palm. A bird of Saradomin only comes to the hand that it truly believes is good and respectful, as said in the Holy Book. The small bird looked up at him with intense blue eyes. Silver with a shrug, put the small bird on his shoulder and kept on walking. At least I'm not alone anymore, he thought amused.

Slowly, the sky was turning darker with each step that Silver took towards the east. No stars shone over head but a pale moon that only intensified the dark shadows. The owl on his shoulder, gazed around bored but on alert. There was no sound except soft footsteps, thump of a staff, robes snapping against fallen twigs, and the small hoot of a bird at times.

A dark tower loamed out above the tall trees ahead of him. The tower was a light color and when sunlight hit it, it shone merrily and welcoming. Days before the Skeleton Army, tempting smells and scents would come drafting out from the open windows and come all the way to the road. Hungry adventurers would come here before Varrock and eat a free meal made by aspiring chefs. Now only faint remnants could be smelled, and the tower seemed a hallow shell of its former self.

Silver walked up to the tower, he came to the Cooking Guild once two years ago in his thieving and bandit days. How he had fainted on the doorstep from hunger, and the young chefs there fed him back to his self. He spent a week there, learning about cooking until he felt that everyone was being annoyed by him. So he left, with half of the money in the small bank they had there. He never returned. Now here he was, seeing the dead body of a once lovely building.

With a glance around him, he hit the door of the guild softly with the orb of his staff. The sound reverberated around him into the darkness. With a cringe, he stopped knocking and waited. The door remained closed and Silver thought he heard voices from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder but no one was there The owl bit him in his shoulder and pointed at the door of the guild. He looked to see that it was slowly opening to let out a older woman in her forties.

"Who are you?" She asked softly and quietly. She had her hands in a dirty white apron, Silver assumed she was clutching a butcher knife. Though her hand might have been shaking, her eyes were cold steel upon him.

"I am Silvermagel3, former apprentice of the late Layte Aubury," Silver said, quickly, "I have got a certain tip that led me here. Is Prince Mathias here?"

The woman remained silent but she stiffened with the name of Mathias, "How do I know you are not a follower of Zamorak and just wear the disguise of a blue-robed wizard?"

"I-I, what!" Silver exclaimed, "I am a real follower of Saradomin, I-I mean, who else would be able to have a owl stay with him, the animal of the holy god!" The owl on his shoulder gave the woman a small hoot.

"Yes," The woman said, her face smiled slowly, "I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness with my attitude before but it is dark times. Please come in before-"

"We get here?" A voice crooned, Silver turned around quickly and counted five soldiers in dark armor walking up to her. Vicious swords were held by pale boney hands…Skeleton warriors! The leader took a step forward with a grin, "Look my men, fresh meat."

Silver touched each of the runes on his belt with a single finger. The leader saw this and order his men to attack but it was too late as he yelled, "Fire bolt!" A small jet of fire pulsed from his hand and struck the leader, who screamed and fell back in pain. The woman jumped forward, a yell on her lips, and swung a knife. The head was thrown back and with a sickening crack, it fell off. Meanwhile, the other three were coming towards the two.

The young mage concentrated and formed a ball with his hands while quickly muttering the words of a spell. Then thrusting his hands forward, the ball was turned into a dark ball of stone and shot forward to hit another warrior. The woman grabbed his shoulder and pulled her back to the guild, the door flew open at her touch and she threw him in. A second later she came through and the door shut with a loud bang.

Silver blinked at the sudden change of light, and waited for his eyes to adjust once more. Finally, when he could see again, he glanced around. The room which once was filled with young chefs and gourmet foods was bare. The stove and dining tables were gone, to be replaced by a larger and longer stand which had the surrounding areas of Varrock on it. Seven people, including the woman in the battle, sat around it, faces locked on Silver and expressionless.

"Caraltana, why do you bring him in here!" A loud male voice came from a short elderly man, a long gray beard almost touching the top of the map table. The woman flinched at his cold tone but didn't move.

"I am not a ruthless killer like the Skellots!" She threw him a dirty look, "I was not going to let him be killed out there, also, I did not see your support out there when they attacked! Please, old man, stop acting like your in charge."

"If not me, then who?" He replied, "Never mind that, I did not employ any others seeing as I thought you would come right back in. I see I was wrong…"

"Yes, like many other things!" Caraltana rebuked, furious. A tall man in soft furs stood up, the woman next to him threw him an alarmed look. They exchanged glances but the man shook his head. The other woman sighed and looked away.

"Stop this nonsense, we can not start fighting among ourselves," The fur man said, gently patting the woman on the shoulder, "That is what the enemy wants and I won't give them moldy bones the satisfaction!"

"Yes, you are right, husband," The woman at his side stood up and flashed them all a defiant look, "Now Ibar, swallow your damn pride, Caraltana, don't act so rash! I don't care about your two's problems but I would like more about this young boy." All heads turn back to Silver, who turns bright red in slight embarrassment.

"Who are you?" A man in the shadows leaned forward into the small candle that sat atop of the table. It was a dwarf in bright blue clothes.

"Silvermagel3," Silver said bluntly. He had said his full name over the last week more then twice and he, truth be told, was sick of it.

"Silver!" A cry came from next to the dwarf and a fury of robes engulfed him. He blinked as he struggled to see the hugging figure, "T-Thessalia! You're alive, but they said no one made it out alive, but here you are!"

"Thessalia, do you know this boy?" The dwarf asked, his hand slowly stroking his long brown beard that almost reached the toes of his feet. Thessalia smiled through her tears.

"Yes, yes," She said quickly, "This is Layte Aubury's apprentice, a very good friend of mine. I was so worried about you! I heard that everyone who went into the Essence Mine were killed…I thought you were too."

"No, I will tell you later," Silver added as she saw her mouth open to ask the question. She gave him a smile and returned back to her chair. Though Ibar still had a small frown on his face.

"If he did escape, then why did he come back here for?" The old man said slowly, "I mean, why not run away and never come back. Tell me!"

"Silence, Ibar," The last voice said, remaining in the shadows, "He came looking for me, of course. My father probably sent him,"-the man stood up and stepped into the light- "I am Mathias, son of the Duke Horacio. The Duke of the great Lumbridge."

Cool, another chapter done! Sorry that it took so long but I have been busy with school quickly approaching. It always has to ruin things, eh. Anyway…reviews!

Flamer Snoop: Okay I will hurry up and make more

Yes, I know you need to read more

Okay, I'll hurry!

Give me a sec!

Well, wait!

Sorry, but I can't stop reading…

Sadly, yes

But I want to know the rest…

No…yes.

Fine!

I'm not looking!

Fine I will!

Sorry, I just had to do that. Anyway, thank you for the review and I quickly made this chapter after I read the review. Though please don't do that for every chapter, I like info about my chapters. Hope you keep updating!!