Winterbell and Marayan returned to Balmora, the former to strategize and the latter to brood. Winterbell was extremely tired, but felt unable to sleep, and instead paced up and down her tiny house, muttering to herself.

It was probably well that she didn't go to bed, for she had been home hardly long enough to make a cup of tea before there was a knock at the door, urgent and quiet, as if the visitor didn't really want to be there.

It was Ajira, and behind her was a woman with bright purple hair.

"Why are you still awake?" Ajira asked, in a surprisingly accusatory tone of voice.
"I'm thinking," Winterbell said mildly. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up; she could sense news of dark import, like storm clouds on the horizon. She stepped back and allowed her visitors to enter, finally remembering who the purple-haired woman was – the guild guide from Ald'ruhn.

"What's going on?" Winterbell asked, bracing for the next crisis.
"Edwinna's dead," Ajira said, her face carefully blank, "and it looks like she was poisoned."
Winterbell dropped into a chair and rested her chin on her hand, her brain complaining about having to fit in and analyze this latest event. "Don't assume," she looked up at Ajira, "that everything that happens in the Mage's Guild happens because of me."

"There's good precedent for it," Ajira retorted.
The purple-haired woman, Winterbell doubted she'd ever been told her name, looked uncomfortable and eventually spoke up, "What I'd hoped was…could you help find who did this? You've managed so far…" She trailed off and looked like she was going to cry.

"Well, I can't help you right now, I only know as much as you've told me." Winterbell frowned and stood up suddenly. "So, we'll discuss this in the morning." She held out her hands to usher the other two out, although Ajira looked annoyed.
"I'll stay at the Guild here, if you don't mind, Ajira, I don't want to go back there. The guards are still looking about anyway."
"Of course, dear, make yourself at home." Ajira smiled then turned back to Winterbell and hissed, "You don't look like you've been sitting and thinking all evening." She looked up and down at Winterbell's travel-worn robe.
"I find having to make constant efforts to keep your trust exhausting, Ajira. I know it's late and the news was a shock, so I'll excuse you this time. But really, you of all people should know the array of subtle alchemical effects I'm capable of – why would I be so crude as to poison her?" And with that parting shot Winterbell closed the door.

"It didn't have anything to do with me. It didn't." Winterbell wondered why she had such a hard time convincing herself. She had to admit, once the initial shock had worn off, she couldn't help but be rather relieved. Of all the Guild Captains, Edwinna was the one who disliked Winterbell the most, and certainly wouldn't have approved of her as Telvanni. And now, well, it looked like there was a Captaincy up for grabs. Winterbell eventually gave up, and went to bed to grab a few hours sleep.
"Now if only someone would poison Nelos my day would be made," she muttered.

Later that morning Winterbell dragged herself out of bed to face routine questioning from the Guild investigators. The Redoran Guards were also investigating, but were confining their efforts to Ald'ruhn for now.
"Ajira says you weren't asleep or in bed when she visited you in the early hours of this morning."
"That's correct," Winterbell said, paying more attention to Ajira than the Altmer doing the questioning.
"And where were you last night then?"
Winterbell flicked a glance over at Marayan, who was trying to shake his head vehemently without actually moving. Coward, she thought. "I was in Gnisis," she said, "visiting a friend."

"So you dragged my reputation through the dirt to provide you with an alibi?" Baladas was, as always, amused, and was already aware of the poisoning by the time Winterbell arrived midmorning with the news.
Winterbell just rolled her eyes, "Did you kill her?"
"No." He leaned back in his chair and replaced a book on the shelf behind him. "I was leaving the Guild half of the equation to you. And honestly, poison? Not my style, really."
"Nor mine," Winterbell said, "but this is really awfully convenient for me."
"You're not feeling guilty, are you?"
"Not really. But I don't trust luck this good. What do you think?"
"I don't know, but I'll look into it. Absolutely nothing reached me before this happened. I mean, absolutely nothing." He seemed more irritated by the failure of his informants than anything else. "So where were you last night, anyway? Or daren't I ask."
"Dren plantation," Winterbell said, rather grudgingly.
Baladas shook his head, "I keep telling you, keep your nose out of that family's business."

"I'm going to try and take Edwinna's place," Winterbell said, firmly changing the subject, "But I can't stay there long. I need to challenge Trebonius as soon as I can."
"Well, whispers from Cyrodil say that his imperial masters aren't too happy with him. The legend of his madness is spreading."
Winterbell grinned, "With a little bit of help?"
"Not just from me, the way I hear it."
"Well, I need to keep moving," Winterbell stood and yawned widely, "I've got things to do. Let me know if you find out anything about Edwinna, it's important."
"Winterbell," Baladas followed her downstairs, "you don't have to be so formal. Friends, remember? You didn't actually damage me, you know."
"I know," Winterbell said softly, "but I've been playing both ends off against the middle for a while now. It's habit forming."
"What about Marayan?"
"He's friendly, for now."
"It is habit forming."
"It's second nature."
"Well, you might want to see Aryon. Your tower should be ready, and he's getting impatient."
"He was next on my list." Winterbell paused in the doorway and frowned, "Hey, as a matter of interest, what do you think would happen if one of the elder Dren brothers kills the other?"
Baladas started laughing, "Absolutely nothing."

As Baladas had warned her, Aryon was losing patience.
"You're more than qualified, and you've organized a Mouth – however unusual a choice. What are we waiting for?"
"The Guild Captaincy of Ald'ruhn. I want it. And once I get it I'll take my place on the council."
"You still seriously expect to stay in the Guild? I've been quite patient with this so far-"
"I," Winterbell interrupted him, much to his surprise, "will get rid of Gothren, as you wanted. But I'm doing it my way. So I want the appointment to be made quietly. No big ceremonies at Sadrith Mora."
"Tradition is important to House Telvanni."
"And traditionally, when an Archmagister is for the chop, tradition is politely ignored."
"I can't argue with that," he conceded. "But an act like that is as good as walking up and slapping him in the face."
"But nowhere near as satisfying."
"Winterbell, I don't get two shots at this. If you fail-"
"If I fail, I'm dead, and there's not much you can do to me then."
"I wouldn't be so sure," he said quietly. "What I want to know is what you intend to do once you if you succeed. Would you really have us absorb the Mages' Guild?"
"Of course not, that would be madness." Winterbell smiled. Master Aryon did not look reassured.

"Do you know Trebonius has ordered someone to kill you all?" Winterbell asked.
"Who?"
"Me."
Aryon chuckled, "Well, he obviously picked the right person for the job. You know, I'll almost miss him."
"His days are numbered," Winterbell agreed. "Master Aryon, I have a question. How often do Telvanni kill each other?"
"More often than is reassuring and less often than the rest of the world thinks. Why?" Aryon raised an eyebrow, "Planning on killing someone?"
"Not immediately. But if you would do me a favour, I'd appreciate it if you let me know if anyone gets poisoned."
"That's not exactly a conventional Telvanni method of assassination."
"Put it down to healthy paranoia."

Winterbell returned to Sadrith Mora, to have words with Skink. The Argonian was obviously in mourning, having been on better terms with Edwinna than Winterbell was.
"She was an amazing researcher, I had such high hopes for what she'd be able to do with your translations, you know. I know she was a bit dismissive, but that's just her nature." He shook his head sadly, "The Guild will miss her."
Winterbell did her best to be sympathetic for ten minutes, then steered the conversation in a more productive direction.
"Have you considered taking her place?" Winterbell asked, "You're more than qualified for it."
"Oh no," Skink said, looking pleased that Winterbell had thought of it anyway, "I like running things in the background here. And besides, the weather here is much nicer – better for my skin. You could do it, you know." He lowered his voice and looked around. "Between you and me, Edwinna and I were talking about the need for change in the Guild. We've been communicating with the Guildmasters in Cyrodil, and we were working up a petition to get rid of Trebonius. The Guild is going through hard times, and although I've heard what Gaydar has been saying about the Monopoly, no one would want him as leader. You, on the other hand…"

"What's Gaydar been saying?" Winterbell enquired innocently.
"Oh, rather similar things to what you said in Balmora, or so I hear. Morale in Vivec has approved tremendously – Trebonius is pleased, of course, but he doesn't seem to realize that no one is pleased with him. Gaydar's a sniveling little Dunmer, and I don't like him, but no one can deny he's doing the Guild good. Now if even he is showing up Trebonius, change is overdue."
"Well, I have to agree with you," Winterbell said cautiously, "but I don't know if I'm that popular."
"You have my support," Skink said firmly, "and probably that of everyone here. Your example has really made a difference. If you can go about the town, so can we, and who cares what the guards say?"
"Well, I have a slight advantage there," Winterbell admitted, "I've been cultivating certain connections within Telvanni for quite some time."
"How?" Skink looked disbelieving, "They'll barely talk to us."
"By making myself useful before they found out I was in the Guild. Don't you understand? Telvanni is all bluff. Not only must they compete against the other houses, but against us as well. They have no allies – so they appreciate anyone willing to talk to them, if you pretend to be intimidated, of course."
"Are you sure?"
"I've been studying them for quite some time. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, you see?" Winterbell lowered her voice even further, "Have you any idea how many defect over to the Guild?"
"They can do that?"
"It's quite dangerous for them, but I personally know no less than three." Winterbell sat back and let Skink digest the information. She knew that the Argonian, who had lived in a state of semi-siege for years, would desperately hope that her words were true.
"But they're dangerous," Skink said, frowning.
"They're dangerous the way a dreugh is dangerous," Winterbell said, proud of her simile, "you have to be very wary when they're in their element, but they're not about to come marching up and invade yours. Anyway, the latest from the Telvanni rumour mill is this; we might not be the only ones with a new leader soon." That'll give him something to think about, Winterbell thought, and with an enigmatic smile she left. She had no doubt that the news would spread, and as far as she was concerned, the sooner everyone moved on from Edwinna's murder – although assassination felt like a more appropriate word – the better.

"Winterbell, I want to apologise," Ajira said, steering her off the travel platform, "Marayan has explained that you were accounted for last night. Although he was rather reluctant to say what you were doing."
Winterbell sighed, and pared down another truth to a half-truth, "We were meeting with Ilmeni, but her father didn't know about it. Look, has there been any news?"
Ajira shook her head, "The Guild investigators came up empty-handed, and the Redoran guards aren't saying anything."
"And I don't have any Redoran contacts. And my other associates didn't have anything either." Ajira accepted her words without comment.
"It's just one thing after another," Winterbell grumbled, running her finger along the edge of Ajira's alembic, "we have to hold the Guild together. Edwinna, the monopoly, Ranis… I hate to think what's coming next."
"Are you going to ask for promotion?" Ajira asked.
"Skink thinks I should, and I'm tempted. What's your opinion?"
"If Skink doesn't want it, then there's no one else qualified. Unless Marayan's had a complete change of heart, of course." Ajira's tail twitched unhappily, "I'm scared of what is going to happen to the Guild."
"So am I."