It had seemed like over the last few months everything in her world had turned upside down. Anriel was a Breton who the Imperial guards had wrongly imprisoned just a few months ago on the grounds that she was a thief and had attempted to steal something from the Market District. After only a day in prison she had escaped, witnessed the assassination of the Emperor of Tamriel, been sent on some insane mission to bring an amulet to the only surviving heir to the throne and discovered that apparently there was more to the world than she could have ever originally conceived. In that time Anriel had truly discovered what trials she would need to complete in order to aid the Blades in protecting Martin and seating him on the throne. While it was all very fascinating in that regard she decided to take some time away from the Blades and really focus on herself.
That being said, "focusing on herself" really took on a different meaning entirely. It had all started when some guy in Anvil tried to mug her outside of a bar. She fought him and merely meant to incapacitate the man. Though she had been a thief in her lifetime and did some dealings now and again with the Thieves Guild she had never really killed someone outside of a marauder or the like.
The man who had attacked her begged for his life, he had attempted to kill Anriel and stabbed her fairly well in the shoulder. In the heat of the moment, the Breton could not find an ounce of mercy within her. Her preferred fighting methods included long range and magic. In her anger, she utilized her Destruction training and fried the man with lightning until blood ran from his ears and eyes. Pulling the knife from her shoulder, she threw it on the charred corpse and ran away into the night.
That night she slept in the woods outside of the city. Smelling of blood and regret she felt something inside her change that night. Some sort of sick sense of joy, joy that she was alive? Perhaps. She couldn't be certain. That night another change entered her life as she was visited by a shadow. A Speaker from the Dark Brotherhood. His name was Lucien Lachance and he admired her "work" as he put it. She could join them, have a "family" as he put it, there was just one catch. She had to kill again. Her heart throbbed loudly in her chest as she stood before the hooded figure. She held her wounded shoulder tenderly and examined the poisoned knife that he offered to her. Throwing her sandy blonde hair away from her face she nodded her agreement and took the knife carefully from his hands. Under the hood only a smirk was visible as he relayed the location of the man and disappeared into he night with a promise that he would appear again once the contract was fulfilled.
That was only a month ago to the day, and in that time Anriel joined the Dark Brotherhood and excelled in the ranks of the assassins. Her mission with the Blades almost completely forgotten, the only thing that mattered now was her "family."
It had been eight months since that fateful night where Anriel had joined her family. The air around her was still and silent. Anriel breathed in the smell of the dew deeply. She was hunting in the woods near Bravil, her exhale producing a light fog that quickly dissipated. Crouched in a tree the bark felt rough against her fingerless gloves. Her black skintight armor allowed her to blend in easily to the night that surrounded her. Below the sound of a group walking disturbed the stillness, four no five, one a woman perhaps? A small man? The Breton tilted her head to the side and listened carefully as they sloppily crashed through the forest floor.
"Eh watch wat yer doin there," A gruff voice cursed into the dark.
"Well, I can't see!" "You fool!" The voice retaliated sharply.
Anriel frowned as her emerald eyes peered into the darkness with ease. One of the few benefits of being skilled in enchanting was armor that allowed the wearer to see in the dark. The prey stumbled into her view. Four males, one well dressed female. The men looked armed but not particularly strong. Removing them would be purely for her enjoyment. The timid, frail noblewoman was her mark. Contract with a high payment. Bonus for not being seen. A wide smile crossed the assassin's face as she carefully drew her bow. Taking aim quickly she rapidly fired four shots, dropping the armed entourage that surrounded the mark. A shrill scream tore into the night.
Anriel's body sung to life, the mere sound sending her adrenaline pulsing feverously through her body. Leaping from the tree she landed on top of the woman, her body crashing violently to the ground. The sound of bones snapping as her arm bent in an awkward way brought a grin to the Breton.
"Please!" the woman begged, upon closer examination, she too was a Breton. Well off, probably also from High Rock rather than Tamriel born. "Please, I'll do anything!"
Breathing deeply Anriel eyed the woman with amusement but remained silent.
"Please don't kill me," The woman wept. Turning on her side and balling up into the fetal position.
"The Dread Lord commands it," The mage placed her right hand on the woman's chest, "Sleep in the Void," barely a whisper as she sent currents of electricity into the quivering body beneath her. The woman shrieked, convulsing and writhing around viciously until she grew still and only a charred skeleton remained.
Relaxing Anriel let the remaining waves of pleasure from the kill ride over her. She had forfeited the bonus, but in the end it was worth it.
"My dear sister," A familiar baritone voice spoke into the night. Feeling her heart leap into her throat the woman stood and frantically searched the night for the sound.
"Hard at work I see," the voice came again but much closer, too close. Spinning around the Breton nearly jumped to find the Speaker behind her. His hooded robe prevented one from viewing his face entirely, but one could see his expression. A smile of approval graced his features as he looked around at the damage done.
"Speaker," Dropping to her knee Anriel bowed her head in deep respect, "An honor," it was rare to see Lucien at all let alone having him witness a mission.
The man walked silently around the kneeling assassin, appraising her. "Ah, yes," Speaking to himself he stopped as he rounded to her left side. "Rise sister, I have a task for you," Anriel rose slowly, feeling the adrenaline slowly leaking back into her veins. "You have done well, very well," He praised as she kept her head lowered. In her mind, she could not help but feel overjoyed. Being the newest Dark Brotherhood member and receiving praise from the Night Mother's Speaker was perhaps the highest honour aside from receiving praise from her or Sithis himself!
"Anything Speaker," He chuckled, "Yes, I would like you to travel to a fort to the north. It is where I reside. The fort is named Farragut. Provided you can arrive there alive, I will give you your new assignment," A challenge, daring she looked up to see the man but he had already vanished. A true shadow. Smiling Anriel turned and ran off into the night. If there were a contract to be given by Lucien himself; she would not tarry and wait to go to him.