"We had it covered," Isaiah glared at Alfonso and Alderich.
"We also had it covered," Alderich said back.
"Can I have the ogres' teeth?" Makenna asked the group. "I have been needing some for a few potions."
"Let me ask you something Makenna," Isaiah started, "what would the three of us possibly do with a handful of ogre teeth?"
Alderich began chuckling. "Well Makenna," he said, "Fons shattered that one's jaw, should make the teeth easier to remove on that one. Speaking of which," he continued, "do you still have those repair hammers Fons? My shield is about to split in half."
Furey pulled several small hammers out of his pack, handed a few to Alderich, and kept a couple for himself.
"If you want to give me your bow I can fix that up for you too Isaiah," Alderich offered.
Osis happily handed over his bow while unstringing it. Clinking was heard as the Dunmer repaired his sword and shield and Isaiah's bow and Fons fixed up his axe. Makenna was occupied cutting the teeth out of the ogres' mouths with a small alchemical dagger.
When the other three were done with their tasks, Isaiah spoke up, "We got what we came for," he said holding up two bottles of Shadowbanish Wine with four more at his feet, "now we leave this hole." He deftly restrung his bow and the four started back towards the exit of the ruins.
"How many of those did the innkeeper want?" Alderich queried Makenna indicating the wine in his pack.
"Three," Makenna answered, "we get to keep half of them."
"We drink well tonight!" Alfonso shouted.
"Andlaen and I will go hunting as well," Isaiah added, "venison is also on the menu."
"If we can get Ra'Meth to get some sweetcakes this will be the best meal I have had in months," Alderich said, his mouth already watering.
"How do our funds stand Makenna?" Isaiah asked the mage.
"With the 5000 septims the innkeeper promised for the wine along with the 587 we found in the fort..." he calculated for a moment, "18692 septims."
"Done," Osis said to Alderich.
"A feast tonight!" Furey roared.
The group got to the exit door to the outside of the fort and stepped outside, shielding their eyes from the all too unexpected sunlight. Waiting outside was a Khajiit and a Bosmer, keeping watch for the others.
The Bosmer was Andlaen, and archer and Isaiah's hunting partner. Andlaen wore fur armor and held a steel bow with a quiver of steel arrow on his back. He also never spoke, none of the other Cards knew why, but he was always silent and no one bothered him about it.
The Khajiit was Ra'Meth, the group's runner. He wore normal clothing and had only a sheathed iron dagger at his side. Meth was unaccustomed to fighting but was naturally a fast runner due to being born under the sign of the Steed, making him useful for running errands, very quickly. One such errand was bringing three Shadowbanish Wines to the inn at Weye and returning from the Market District of the Imperial City with supplies.
"Hello boys!" Isaiah greeted the two Wild Cards as he exited the ruin. The reunited group exchanged greetings before Osis again took charge. "Ra'Meth," he said, "I need you to take these three bottles to the Wawnet Inn in Weye," he took three of the Shadowbanish Wines out of Alderich's pack and placed them in the Khajiit's. "Then go to the Market District, get some sweetcakes, we have a meal planned tonight. Alderich, we need repair hammers?"
"No," the elf replied, "I still have a few dozen back at the hideout."
"Alright," Isaiah nodded turning back to Ra'Meth. "Also, some weapons and armor, whatever we might need. Ask Makenna if he needs any ingredients, then you are good to go."
Hearing Osis, Makenna quickly scrawled down a short list of alchemical ingredients and handed it to Ra'Meth. "Thank you, Meth," the mage said to him in appreciation. "Oh, and if you can find any better equipment than the apprentice set I have, I will owe you one."
"Yes, goodbye friends," Ra'Meth said as he turned and began to sprint west along the Red Ring Road at an astounding speed.
"Quick cat," Osis commented. "Andlaen, we are going hunting. Fons, Alderich, Makenna, you are free for the remainder of the day, see you back at the hideout."
The group said their goodbyes and parted ways: Osis and Andlaen headed north into the woods and the elven brothers and Furey headed west along the road back to their hideout at the Ayleid ruin of Sercen.
As the three reached the ruin, they saw a Redguard fighting an Orc, both dressed in iron armor. The Redguard had a steel warhammer while the Orc wielded a steel battleaxe.
Before the three could get there to help, the Orc swung the axe in a wide arc and cleaved the Redguard in two at the waist. He saw them approaching and shook his head saying, "Bandits, they try this once a week."
"How goes it Thurod?" Alderich greeted the Orc.
The Orc was Thurod gro-Monk, also a Wild Card. He was a fighter, and a powerful one at that, being born under the sign of the Warrior had its advantages.
More greetings went around. Thurod then walked over to the upper half of the Redguard bandit and pried the warhammer from his dead hands. He threw it to Fons. "I do not need it," he said holding up his axe.
Alfonso swung the hammer over his head and crushed the bandit's skull. "I like it."
"Was that completely necessary?" Makenna questioned.
Fons grinned, "No."
Three headed through the door to Sercen, lair of the Wild Cards. Fons stayed outside as it was his turn to stand watch.
The elves and Thurod went down the steps deeper into the hideout.
The ruin of Sercen was a small Ayleid structure in comparison to others around Cyrodiil. It consisted of a short hallway leading to a very large room, more or less. The hallway broke into the south end of the room. Somewhat between the room and hall lay a smaller room with one exit into each. This smaller room housed several chests containing alchemical ingredients and a small table with scattered equipment and recipes. Makenna's alchemy lab.
About halfway down the larger room, one more smaller room broke off to the west. Inside was a furnace surrounded by an anvil and various tools used for repair in one corner. On the opposite wall an assortment of weapons and armor. This was Alderich's blacksmith and armory.
The south of the large room just outside the hall had a sparring mat laid down along with a few targets and dummies off to the side. The training and sparring area of the Cards.
In the center of the room was a large dining table surrounded by chairs. Storage containers for food, a large cooking pot, and a grill were nearby. Obviously the dining and cooking area.
Against the far north wall were six beds with chests at the foot of each for the occupants to keep their belongings. The sleeping area. To the right were several bookcases next to Makenna's bed, each shelf filled with different texts of varying age. One of these bookcases was dedicated to archiving the Wild Cards' history, Makenna being a record-keeper of sorts. The only member of the group that did not have a bed here was Alfonso who, being a Nord, preferred the cold and a bedroll outside.
All of this was illuminated by a soothing bluegreen, but still white, light emanating from stones on the tops of six foot tall stone pillars. Sercen held no torches and was constantly lit.
"Looks like that bandit got a shot in," Alderich commented pointing at a dent in Thurod's cuirass. "Want me to fix that up for you?"
The Orc agreed and handed the armor to Alderich then went to get clothes out of his chest to change out of his uncomfortable greaves and boots. Alderich made his way to the smithy and went to work while Makenna headed over to his library to read.