Someone is Trying to Kill Me!

29th Last Seed

I struck out for Ivarstead on a horse I borrowed from Shadr, taking a route along the north shore of the lake.

I was harassed a bit by frostbite spiders, but they cannot keep up with a mounted rider, so I simply rode on and left them behind.

I'd gone some distance past the spider swarm when I came across an old, burned out shack.  I dismounted to have a look around, which was a mistake in that the horse decided to take off back towards Riften.  Oh well.  I guess I walk.

The building looked to be some kind of hideout for disreputable folks.  The woman on guard thought I was there to buy something, and pointed to the cellar door, but I didn't go inside.  I'm not sure what that place is, but pretty certainly it isn't someplace I want to be.  Maybe a stolen goods shop, or a skooma den?

Now here's where things get really upsetting and scary.  After heading back to the road, I was ambushed at small bridge by a Dark Brotherhood assassin!  I tried to run away, but the murderer was fast.  He must have been just an initiate though, because after he ran me down I still managed to fight him off.

What is more upsetting than being attacked, is that I found a note on his body, with his orders to murder me!  It had my name on it and everything!  There is a contract on my life!

Now, who in Tamriel would want to have me murdered?  I've been racking my brain trying to figure out who I could have pissed off, and come up with nothing.  Sven wasn't too happy that I told Camilla his letter was a fake, but I doubt he would go all Dark Sacrament over it.  Maybe one of those thieves back in Riften?  I declined to help them out, but I stayed out of their way, and I'm not even sticking around.  I can't see them spending any gold to get rid me.

Got to Ivarstead without further incident, and I got Waylandriah's spoon from the farmhouse where she left it, but Akatosh take me, I'm disconcerted.