***Nehib Mhiner: The Archer's Paradox, Bravil***

I fingered my way through the different bows hung on the wall. If I was going to complete my initiation into the Dark Brotherhood then I would have to be prepared.

Lucien had told me that to be initiated into the brotherhood I would have to kill a man named Rufio who lived at the Inn Of Ill Omen, near Bravil. He told me that it wouldn't be a hard kill but "Sithis needs his soul" and I was to give him it. The target himself is going to be easy to take down, an old man living alone off the beaten track. But it's an inn which means there are going to be witnesses, lots of them.

I picked out an ebony bow, it seemed fitting that it was so dark seen as I was going to use it to join a group of feared assassins. The string was tight yet springy and the surface was polished and smooth. Perfect. I took that and a quiver of steel arrows to the counter.

"Thank you very much Sir" Said the wood elf behind the counter, "That will be 120 septims please"

"Certainly" I payed with the money Lucien had given me, albeit grudgingly. Off to the In Of Ill Omen then. Suddenly I realised, I had no idea how long it would take me to get there from Bravil. One, two days? Less? More? "I wonder if you can help," I asked the elf, "a friend of mine owns the inn of ill omen, it's up the green road and I thought I would pay him a visit. Have you any idea how long it would take to get there"

"Hrm," he pondered on my question for a while before answering. "I've been there a couple of times on my way to restock from the Imperial City. It's a rat infested hole just to warn you, no one there apart from the land lord and a few ugly tenants."

I smiled at him, "friends are friends" I said.
"Well indeed Mr…"

"Mhiner, Nehib Mhiner"

"Well Mr Mhiner I would say it's about 2 day's walking, 3 tops." I thanked him and began to leave. Then I realised something. He knew my name. He knew where I was heading. I'm sure if a murder was discovered at the Inn he could piece two and two together. Discreetly I swung my new bow off my shoulder and knocked an arrow.

"Oh by the way," I said before swinging the bow round and releasing the arrow. I breathed in the satisfying thud as the arrow embedded itself in the wood elf's heart and slipped out the door.

Two days of woodland hiking later and I had arrived at the Inn. The Bosmer is right I thought! It was shabby, the vines on the rotting wood were brown and the roof had quite a large hole in it. Was right I reminded myself. The Bosmer was right. Outside there was a Breton woman arching at targets and, I noticed, hitting the centre of the target every time.
"Why sweet Akatosh!" She said when she saw me, "are my eyes deceiving me or are you a customer?"

"Yes ma'am I am" I said, "Can I just go right in?"

"Yes, yes certainly, please do. Although be gentle with the door, the hinges are rusty. It wouldn't be the first time it's fallen in."

Stepping inside the place was as much of a mess as it was from the outside. Directly opposite from me was a Large, dirty (obviously) Nord. "My God" he said "a customer! Come come take a seat take a seat!" I sat down at the bar and tossed a few coins at him. "Thank you kind sir" said the nord and produced a rather dirty looking mug frothing with beer. I took a sip and put it down on the counter. As I did the Breton came in from outside slinging her bow up next to the door. And after her a legionary, a member of the imperial legion.

Crap.

Obviously I was going to have to kill everyone here, witnesses and all that but not that there was a legionary here… The thing about legionaries, and not many people know this, is that they have panic buttons on their armour. One press and every guard from here to skyrim comes running. I was going to have to kill this one first. And very quickly.

"What brings you here anyway" Said the Breton, "I'm Rossanha by the way, the big brute over there is Menhim."

"Oh, I'm on business, on my way to Skingrad."

"Well it's nice to have some patronage at last" boomed Menhim "all we got is old Rufio downstairs." He sighed.

"Pay's his keep though" Rossanha commented, "but between you and me," she lowered her voice, "I think he's hiding from someone. He talks in his sleep, always says that he didn't mean to do something and that she wouldn't stay still."

"He's a killer?" I said

"Lets not jump to conclusions now!" said the Legionary, "lucky I'm off duty now or I'd have to investigate!" He laughed and chucked a handful l of coins at the bar in return for two beers. I decided now was the best time to make my move. I had it all carefully calculated. He would die first, and then the Breton who I realised could string and fire her bow in a matter of seconds and then finally the nord.

I was going to have to be quick. Lucien had given me a gift before we had parted ways. A black ebony blade. Beautiful and sleek. It had the word woe carved on the side which I thought was very fitting. Palming the blade I walked over to the legionary and in one swift move grabbed his head and brought the blade to his neck and I slit his throat.

He gargled as blood poured out of him and was dead within a matter of seconds. Turning I saw the Breton with a look of total shock on her face. She reached for her bow but I threw the dagger at her. It spun through the air and landed square in her chest the force flinging her back against the wall. Finally I turned to the Nord. He backed up against the wall as I drew my new silver short sword from my belt.

He bellowed as I jumped up onto the bar, sending glasses flying and pivoted a full 360 degrees holding my sword out. The blade spun round and collided with his neck taking his head of and sending it flying towards the stairs.

I love the deadly silence after a murder. It makes me feel so powerful, so alive. I went over to the Breton who wasn't completely dead yet. Drawing my sword again I retrieved the blade of woe and held the short sword above my head, plunging it down into her stomach.

With a sadistic grin on my face I located the door to the basement and climbed down leaving a blood soaked room behind me. .