The seven Wild Cards stood around a chair with an unconscious assassin tied securely to it.
"Is he a member of the Dark Brotherhood?" Alfonso asked.
"Could be the Morag Tong," Alderich suggested.
"Probably not," Makenna said. "What would someone from Morrowind want Isaiah dead for?"
"He is wearing the robes of the Brotherhood," Ryan pointed out.
"Why do we not just ask him?" Sumika queried.
Everyone looked at each other, unable to come up with a reason.
"Alderich," Isaiah said, indicating the assassin.
This was immediately followed by the Dunmer backhanding the bound assassin. The Breton woke with a start, moving to rub his jaw where he was just hit, but finding he was unable to move. He saw the group standing around him and began to glare at them, three in particular: Isaiah for being his target and simultaneously being alive, Ryan for catching him despite having his throat cut, and Alderich for smacking him.
"Who are you?" Isaiah asked.
The man did not reply.
"Who do you work for?" he questioned further.
No response.
Makenna, thinking about the situation, came up with an idea. "Sithis will be disappointed with your failure," he said.
The assassin's facial expression did not change, but the look in his eyes betrayed his terror.
"After this defeat," the Dunmer continued, "you will be useless to the Brotherhood."
The Dark Brother's glare faltered, but was quickly replaced.
Makenna kept going, "Soon they will send another, better assassin to finish your job... and you."
Weaver broke and stared at the floor between his feet.
"Now," Isaiah said, "who are you?"
"Jamie Weaver..." the assassin muttered.
Isaiah looked at the others to confirm what he had heard. The looks on their faces were all he needed. The shade had said his name, this assassin would be fighting alongside the Wild Cards.
There was a knock at the door. Osis pointed at Fons and Alderich. "Watch him. The rest of you come with me." The five walked to the entrance. As they did, Isaiah gave orders, "Makenna, show the girls how to inspect the ruins. Be subtle in your instructions. I do not wish to convey any ignorance to outsiders. Ryan, stay with me."
Makenna opened the door to reveal a Redguard and a Khajiit. Isaiah waved his hand forward in a signal to advance. Makenna, Eyana, and Sumika pushed past the visitors and began searching the ruins.
"Hello Armande, S'Krivva. Come in," Isaiah greeted them. He led the two to the table. They sat down and Isaiah sat across from them, Ryan stood to his left. Makenna and the elven sisters reentered the hideout. Makenna went and stood to Isaiah's right and the sisters stood behind the three.
The visitors looked past the five solemn Cards and saw a Breton bound to a chair with muscular Nord and Dunmer guards on either side of him. The Redguard opened his mouth to question it.
Isaiah stopped him. "Let me just say that you are not our first visitors today and leave it at that. You need not know more. Now," he changed the subject, "what do you need?"
"A distraction," came S'Krivva's Khajiit hiss.
"Yes, Methredhel told us that much," Isaiah replied.
"Speaking of Methredhel," Armande started, "you gave her quite a scare yesterday, she refused to join us here today."
"Well, she should not have tried to steal from me," Isaiah replied with a smirk.
"She knows that now," Armande said.
"Shall we continue?" S'Krivva questioned.
"What kind of distraction?" Osis queried as if the previous tangent had not been engaged.
"Any kind of distraction," Armande responded, "but preferably without casualties."
"We need the bulk of the Imperial Watch away from the Imperial Prison," S'Krivva added.
"You need the Guard away from the Prison?" Makenna scoffed.
"How much will it cost?" Armande asked ignoring the Dunmer.
"Did Methredhel not tell you already?" Isaiah asked back.
"Yes, she did," Armande replied, "and also the reasoning..."
"So you have the up-front pay?" Isaiah questioned.
"15,000 septims," Armande said placing a canvas sack on the table.
Isaiah picked up the sack and held it in his upturned palm for a moment. "You are 1,000 short," he said finally.
"Never could get anything past you Isaiah," Christophe laughed. He brought out another smaller sack from his pocket and handed it to Osis.
He weighed it. "This has 2,000 septims in it," he said in a questioning tone.
"We thought you would deserve it after that show," S'Krivva said.
'How?' Eyana mouthed to Sumika. She shrugged.
"Any preferences to how we do this?" Isaiah asked the two Thieves Guild doyen.
"You know how we operate," Armande responded, "however you want to do it without casualties. If there are casualties, we will subtract 5,000 septims per life from the rest of your 60,000 septims. Is that acceptable?" he asked.
"Perfectly," Osis responded simply.
"How do you plan to distract them?" S'Krivva asked.
"I did not ask you what you are stealing, and you will not ask how we will assist your robbery," Isaiah said.
Not a word was said in response.
"When is this happening?" Isaiah asked the two.
"Today at noon," S'Krivva answered.
"So you have about three hours to prepare," Armande pointed out.
"Short notice," Isaiah sighed, "but we can work with that... Armande, S'Krivva, if you will leave so we can get ready," he stated as an order, not a request.
Both Thieves Guild doyen left, giving final glances at the Cards' prisoner.