Bethesda owns Morrowind. All of it. Even the little pointy bits at the top. You think Winterbell's been unfair to the Mage's Guild so far, you just wait for what comes next. –[)

For the next few days the Mage's Guild seethed with rumours and theories as to what might have happened to Galbedir's gems. Surprisingly enough, Galbedir got little sympathy, the general consensus being that it was her fault for leaving a fortune on display like that.

Winterbell now had the money for some better alchemical equipment, and she seemed to be more successful in making potions. Galbedir's gems lay untouched at the bottom of Winterbell's bag, but she had managed to trap some souls of her own, and spent a morning in grim silence, trying to enchant her sword. Her eventual success was marked with a triumphant grin and a trip into the wilderness to test it out.

Everyone was getting used to Winterbell's dramatic returns. No one raised an eyebrow when she returned staggering and bleeding and slugging back potions. Ajira and Marayn expressed worry over her health, but she waved them off, telling them she knew what she was doing. Eventually, of course, the supply box ran out.

Sparks flashing before her eyes, Winterbell rummaged desperately through the box. For some reason her nose wouldn't stop bleeding and she was sure it was a lack of Magicka. Ranis watched her for a while, then said rather indifferently,

"If the box is empty you could visit one of the other guildhalls. This one won't be refilled until Ajira has some spare time. Can't see that happening anytime soon."

Winterbell staggered downstairs, holding her nose. Shoving aside some other customers she bought Ajira's last restore magicka potion. Shuddering, Winterbell held her head as the warm familiar pressure built up behind her eyes.

"You should look for work at another guildhall," suggested Ajira, "I won't have any more duties for you until I pass these exams and get promoted."

That evening Marayn worked late, the only other sound was faint snores coming from underneath Ajira's desk. The Kaijit's paranoia was such that she had moved her blankets under there permanently. Suddenly there was a loud 'POP' and Marayn nearly dropped his quill in surprise. Frowning, he went to investigate.

He found Winterbell at her desk, sucking on her fingers and glaring at a modest copper amulet that sat innocently on the table in front of her. It wasn't until he crushed some gem shards under his shoe that he realized what had happened. When the gem had exploded it had sliced Winterbell's fingers open. She absentmindedly dipped them into a healing potion that she had poured into a dish for that very purpose, and looked up at Marayn inquiringly.
"So that's how it's done." He said, eyeing the pile of trinkets that glowed and shined near Winterbell's elbow.
"It's not supposed to do that. The soul got away."
"I hear you'll be moving on." He said, sitting at the desk and examining a gleaming ring.
"I don't have a lot of choice. I can't make restore magicka potions yet, the ingredients are too rare and expensive."
"Where are you going to go?"
"Dunno."
"I would suggest Ald'ruhn. The weather is awful, and it's crawling with uptight Redoran types, but Edwinna is a fine mage, does a lot of research on Dwemer stuff."
"Really?"
Winterbell looked thoughtful. Marayn shook his head, "Oh no, you're going to start raiding Dwarven ruins now as well? Don't you know that's illegal?"
"You'll have to come up with a better reason than that." Winterbell smirked.
"I am aware of tha-ow!" The ring sparked and he dropped it, his hand twitching with shock magic. "What kind of enchantment was that?"
"Oh I'm sorry, they're practice, and they're not meant to be used. Sort of like calling cards, give a surprise to anyone who fiddles with them." Winterbell shoved the bowl of healing potion in his direction.
"You really are a nasty person, you know that?"
"I do my best."

The next day Winterbell packed up her weapons, and tidied away her alchemical apparatus. Ajira wished her luck, and Masaline told her to have fun. Sharn reminded her to think of her friends if she should find anything 'unusual and interesting' and Marayn saw her off with a sardonic smile.

Masaline's magic swirled around Winterbell, then the world seemed to lurch sideways, and Winterbell found herself in the Ald'ruhn Mage's Guild. Inside it was quiet and cool, and Winterbell had the impression that the walls were very thick. The guild guide was an Imperial woman with hair a rather startling shade of purple. She directed Winterbell to Edwinna with a sincere "Welcome to Ald'ruhn". Winterbell wondered idly if there was some kind of cheerfulness test that you had to take before they let you become a guild guide as she wandered down a flight of steps.

Edwinna was a sharp, efficient looking Breton, who greeted Winterbell perfunctorily and told her that if she wanted to make herself useful to find a copy of "Chronicles of Nchuleft". Winterbell didn't have the foggiest idea where to start looking for the tome, and instead went in search of the supply box.

She was gratified to learn that this Mage's Guild had private rooms, and she installed herself in one temporarily. There was even a complimentary 'Guide to Ald'ruhn' which Winterbell read with interest. The supply box was guarded by a rather irritating Breton who, while friendly enough, set Winterbell's teeth on edge.

Her magicka replenished, Winterbell went out to explore Ald'ruhn. And was practically knocked off her feet by the wind. Hot, stinging sand was blown into her face and hair. Winterbell noticed that the Redoran guards had nice enclosed helmets to protect them from the wind but everyone else battled around with their hands over their eyes.

"Dren sure wasn't kidding about the weather," Winterbell thought, "maybe I should have gone to Sadrith Mora instead, even the Telvanni can't be worse than this."

Winterbell soon decided that she didn't like Ald'ruhn. The Redorans were not her sort of people at all, and she tended to get lost in the huge manors and shops under Skar. All the buildings looked the same and there was no natural light inside them, even when the sky was clear.

She was soon pointed in the direction of Jobasha's Rare Books in Vivec, as none of the local booksellers had "Chronicles of Nchuleft". Winterbell went back to the guild guide.

Winterbell was in Vivec only briefly, and her impression was of chaos and noise. There was a huge queue for the guild guide and Winterbell was given a rather hurried 'Welcome-to-Vivec-enjoy-your-stay' before the next traveler arrived. She battled her way through the Foreign Quarter, got insulted by an Ordinator, paid a reasonable amount for 'Chronicles' and managed a brief rummage of the Vivec Mage's Guild supply box before queuing patiently and zapping back to Ald'ruhn.

Edwinna seemed pleasantly surprised that Winterbell was back so fast. Winterbell had the vague impression that the mage had expected her to go to Nchuleft itself and find a copy there. Winterbell had a rather lonely dinner at The Rat in the Pot and went to bed, hoping tomorrow would be more interesting. She wouldn't be disappointed.

The next day Edwinna was found irritably waiting for a potion of detect creatures that another mage had promised her. Her patience ended, she ordered Winterbell to go to Sadrith Mora and tell an Argonian mage by the name of Skink-in-Tree's-Shade to 'get his scaly tail moving'. Once again, Winterbell traveled by guild guide.

She found herself in a Mage's Guild that, if she were being polite, she would call 'cozy'. Her actual words were 'bloody tiny'. There was a faint air of being under siege; everyone was excessively polite and considerate. Winterbell found it quite unnerving after the genial and not so genial feuding of Balmora, the hushed and studious atmosphere at Ald'ruhn and the harried chaos of Vivec.

Skink-in-Tree's-Shade was most apologetic and he assured Winterbell that the potion would be complete in an hour if she cared to wait. Being less than keen on spending an hour in the cramped guildhall, Winterbell declared that she'd have a look around Sadrith Mora. She was given dozens of warnings about the Telvanni, who would no doubt hex her into the ground given half a chance. Winterbell could hardly see how the Telvanni could know she was in the Mage's Guild, and it was with a sense of relief that she stepped out into the dazzling late-summer sunshine.

Sadrith Mora never let you forget you were on an island. The air was redolent with the smell of the sea, and the sound of the waves pounding the southern cliffs. There were squalls far out over the eastern horizon, and a strong sea breeze ruffled Winterbell's hair and tugged on her robe. She strolled away from Wolverine Hall, and stared in amazement at the town before her.

The buildings were alive. Winterbell could not work out if they were mushroom or plant or some strange combination of the two. Her eyes wide, she walked up and placed her hands on the cool green walls. Eventually a gruff Telvanni guard told her to move along, and she did so, still trying to look at everything at once. Winterbell went window shopping, more to get a look at the inside of the Telvanni houses that to actually buy anything. Winterbell did eventually purchase some frost salts, and the apothecary told her that if she was interested in Telvanni architecture she should see the Council House.

The Council House was suspended over a fissure that the funneled the waves up so it was always surrounded by a mist of sea-spray. Very much impressed, Winterbell carefully navigated the bridge and pushed open the big stone door. A dark elf guarded the entrance to the Council Room, and rather haughtily told Winterbell that there was a visitor's gallery on the top floor.

The apothecary hadn't lied. Magnificent humming crystals covered the ceiling and bathed the room in a faintly bluish light. There were few others already there, following the discussion below with interest. Winterbell couldn't make head nor tale of the argument below. It rather reminded her of Balmora, with everyone talking at once, and no one apparently listening to anyone else. Eventually the session ended, and everyone stepped off their podiums and contented themselves with insulting each other in snide whispers.

Winterbell was leaving when she bumped into a well-dressed Dunmer eating some kind of sandwich. She apologized as she recognized him as one of the councilors.
"Well you're new. We don't see to many strange faces around here. Got your papers yet?"
Winterbell had no idea what he was talking about, and decided it was safer not to lie, "Err...no, I'm just-"
"Looking to join eh? At least you're a Dunmer, not like some of the others we've taken on of late."
"Umm...err...right. You can't trust those Bosmer, can you?"
"You certainly seem to be made of the right stuff. You should see the rules first though. If you steal from another Telvanni and don't get caught, they were careless and deserved to lose their belongings. If you want to fight another Telvanni and you win, then obviously your cause was more just...I think that about covers it."
Winterbell grinned, "I like those rules."
"Well then," he shook Winterbell's hand, "welcome to Telvanni. I'm sure you'll do well. Excuse me, I must get back to the meeting."
Winterbell stared after him, "Err...no wait...oh well. I can't see what harm it could do. Sadrith Mora is a rather pleasant place after all."

Winterbell, caught up in her own cleverness at being on both sides, took the potion back to Edwinna, chuckling to herself. She got some strange looks, but paid them no mind.

"This is going to be fun." She had no idea just how much.