Alfonso, Alderich, and Ryan lay in bed. Alderich in his own bed, Fons in Isaiah's because a bedroll outside was unsuitable for recovery, and Ryan in Makenna's because the floor was also not the preferred condition.
Alderich opened his eyes. "I am really getting sick of waking up and not being able to move," he said to Sumika at his bedside.
Fons fell out of bed. "So am I," he complained from the floor.
"You are both going to be down and out for a few days after that abuse of power," Makenna told them in an irritated tone, "learn to control yourselves."
Isaiah helped Fons back into bed. As he began to lay down, he saw Ryan on the opposite side of Alderich. "How is he doing?"
Isaiah looked over at him then back to Alfonso and Alderich. "We honestly do not know," he sighed. "We cannot wake him. He has a pulse and he is still breathing, so we will just let him wake up when he is ready."
The day for the most part went by without incident. After a few hours, Fons and Alderich were able to stand up and walk around, if unsteadily.
"How are you two feeling?" Eyana asked them as they all crossed paths.
"Good," Fons replied, "but I doubt I will be swinging an axe for a while."
"Yeah," Alderich agreed, "I have just enough strength to walk, not much more than that."
"He move at all yet?" Fons asked nodding at Ryan.
"No," Eyana sighed.
"Isaiah!" Sumika - who had been keeping watch - yelled from the door. "We have a visitor, what do I do?"
Osis looked up from stringing his bow, "Keep them there, I will be right over."
Alderich and Alfonso attempted to put on their armor to check the ruins. Eyana stopped them. "They have this," she reassured them.
Isaiah arrived at the entryway to see a female Bosmer standing next to Sumika. She appeared to be unarmed. "What do you want with the Wild Cards?" he asked the stranger.
"My... employer," she started with a very slight laugh, "has asked me to request your services." She obviously wished for her employer to remain anonymous.
Makenna brushed past them and began to inspect the standing ruins.
"And who might you be?" Isaiah asked.
"My name is Methredhel," she said, "anything else is unimportant."
"For the right price it is," Isaiah said, "yes."
"How much for a distraction?" Methredhel asked.
"What kind of distraction?" Osis queried back.
The Wood Elf thought about how to classify what she needed done. "An... Imperial City Watch wide distraction," she said finally. "And your not questioning why," she added.
"The entire city watch?" Isaiah asked with a laugh.
"The majority of it," she responded. "Preferably without casualties."
"Let me make sure I understand this," Isaiah said, "you want us to distract as much of the Imperial Watch as possible long enough for you to do... whatever it is you need to do, without harming any of them."
"If it's too much for you..." Methredhel began.
"No," Isaiah said not taking the bait and remaining steady, "I am just trying to think of how much this will cost you."
The Bosmer remained silent, her taunt having failed.
"Let me see," Osis thought out loud, "distracting the Watch... probably 30,000 septims..."
"Done," Methredhel said eagerly.
"Hold on," Isaiah stopped her, "not done yet." He continued, "Without wounding or killing any of them, we will double it to 60,000. And finally," he said with a smile of satisfaction, "not exposing a major Thieves Guild heist will run 15,000 up-front."
Not only Methredhel, but all the other Cards stared at him with incredulous looks on their faces.
"You just made me hire you whether I want to or not," the thief finally managed.
Isaiah responded still wearing his smile, "I am completely aware of that."
The rest of the Cards were still speechless.
"I... will come back tomorrow with the details and your up-front pay," she said.
"Did you plan on giving Makenna his ring back now or when we see you tomorrow?" Isaiah asked.
Makenna immediately checked his pocket for his Ring of Wizardry and Methredhel's face flushed. She pulled the ring out of her pocket and gave it to Makenna. The Bosmer left, face ghost white without saying a word.
Isaiah yelled after her, "You can keep my dagger, I have another just like it."
Methredhel broke into a run.
Makenna, Sumika, Eyana, Alderich, and Fons stared at Isaiah.
"How did you know all that?" Makenna queried finally.
"You'll find out a bit after Armande Christophe and S'Krivva arrive tomorrow," he replied.
"Who are-" Alderich began to question.
"Tomorrow," Osis said simply, cutting him off.