"Isaiah," Makenna started in a questioning tone, "how is it you know everything that goes on?"
"It's a gift I have..." he replied.
"What gift?" the Dunmer pressed.
"I don't care to tell you just yet," Isaiah responded.
"Oh, come on," Makenna continued, "we will not tell anyone."
"And neither will I," Isaiah stated, noticeably annoyed. "Now stop pressing or the Watch will find your body in Lake Rumare."
Makenna stopped probing. As the five other Cards approached, the assassin looked up briefly, then back at the floor.
"Look at me," Isaiah said to him. He continued to stare at the floor. "Look me in the face right now or I will put an arrow in the top of your skull."
He looked up, but he looked around Isaiah, avoiding eye contact.
"In the face," Isaiah demanded. "Now."
Weaver made and maintained eye contact.
"Who gave you orders to kill me?" Isaiah questioned.
"My orders came directly from the Listener himself," Weaver replied.
"Who requested the assassination?" Isaiah asked. "Who wants me dead?"
"Sithis," he replied.
"I thought so..." Isaiah said in thought. "Cut him loose."
Alderich obediently cut the ropes around the assassin's hands. Weaver rubbed his wrists and gave Isaiah a puzzled look.
"Now listen, and listen carefully," Isaiah started. "You have been used. Sithis does not want me dead... at least not yet. This was a rouse for you to join us."
"Join you?" he laughed.
"Do you think you were actually meant to kill me?" Osis laughed back. "Alderich, Alfonso, show him why that would not happen."
Fons transformed into his beastform and Alderich began turning into a flame monarch. Weaver looked on in a mixture of horror and awe.
"And him?" Weaver nodded at Ryan.
The group looked at Pryde. "What about him?" Isaiah asked turning back to Weaver.
"His power?" he said.
"Ah..." Isaiah came to a sudden realization. "Give me your hand," he ordered Ryan.
He held out his hand. Isaiah quickly drew his dagger and cut off Ryan's hand at the wrist in one fluid motion. Eyana screamed at the sight while Ryan gave Isaiah a look of horror.
Moments later, the hand seemed to disintegrate on the floor and grew back on Ryan's arm.
"Those undead..." Alderich, back in elf form, realized.
"When I vaporized it , he must have inhaled it and gained their powers..." Makenna finished.
"You cut off my hand!" Ryan yelled.
"You grew it back," Isaiah said smiling. "Besides, he slit your throat," he pointed at Weaver.
"How do you-?" Ryan started.
Isaiah interrupted him. "So Jaime, you are free to look around our hideout, but you will not leave. Is that understood?"
"Why?" Jaime asked.
"Because no matter how little you or I like the turn of events, you are a Wild Card now," Isaiah answered.
"And if I do try to leave?" Jaime asked already knowing the answer.
Isaiah smiled. "Alderich, Ryan, and Sumika will be staying here, and they will kill you."
"So what is our plan for the distraction?" Eyana asked Isaiah.
"The three of us," he said indicating himself, Makenna, and Eyana, "will be capturing Alfonso."
"Care to elaborate?" Makenna asked.
"Fons will be in the Market District in his beast form, cause a little bit of chaos - without killing anyone. Then we come. You and I will have arrows coated with a poison of paralysis," he motioned towards Eyana, "and capture him."
"You are going to shoot me!?" Fons yelled.
"Well, if you do not think you are strong enough, we could trade you for a monarch..." Makenna taunted him.
"No, no, no," Fons shook his head, "I have this." He looked at the others. "What exactly am I doing?"
Makenna explained. "You go into the Market District, destroy some property. The Watch comes to take you down, we immobilize you first. We convince the Watch we are mercenaries hired to capture you."
"Why do I have to get shot?" Alfonso asked confusedly.
"To make it convincing," Alderich answered.
"No, I want some target practice," Isaiah joked.
"I take it you need me to make those poisons of paralysis," Makenna said.
"If you would," Isaiah replied.
"First I was confused by you letting me live," Jaime said. "Now you are discussing your plans in front of me and treating me as if I am one of you."
"Do you not get it!?" Isaiah reeled at him yelling. "Must I spell it out for you? We were visited by a shade, a servant of your master, telling us you would join our ranks. You have been abandoned."
Weaver recoiled from the shouting Imperial. "No, that cannot be," he stammered, "I have been a loyal child of Sithis, my lord cannot just abandon me."
"Your loyalty has not been reciprocated," Osis said flatly.
Jaime could not find a way to respond.
"Makenna, Eyana, Fons, get ready," Isaiah ordered. "Sumika, guard the entrance, do not let anyone in without my permission," he turned slightly in Jaime's direction, "or out."