Ajira was correct; no one really wanted to become Guild Captain of Ald'ruhn. Edwinna had run the place with ruthless efficiency and, in Winterbell's view, had in the process removed any spine her subordinates might have had. Winterbell kept her thoughts to herself, however, and self-effacingly and quietly convinced people she was an appropriate choice as a replacement.

It was during this time that Winterbell visited the curious and quiet Guildhall at Caldera. The town itself was awash with money from the mine, and as a consequence the Guildhall was as well. She supposed they kept such a low profile to prevent the rest of the Guild finding out about it and demanding their share.

They knew of her, of course, and were friendly enough. In fact, they didn't seem to want for anything; safe within the Imperial mining machine, the loss of the Guild Monopoly might have occurred in another province, for all the impact it'd had in Caldera. Winterbell left Caldera with an assurance of support, after promising to implement policy of non-interference, and a strong desire for silver-service tea and biscuits.

So that made it a formality. Skink, Estirdalen, and Trebonius were only too happy to let Winterbell take the Captaincy at Ald'ruhn, and Winterbell's campaigning at Caldera sealed the deal.

Winterbell talked with Gaydar for a while; he seemed almost happy now that, thanks to her, he was almost looked upon favorably by the other mages in Vivec. Winterbell assured him that if Dratha caused him any trouble she would take responsibility. In fact, Dratha had found Gaydar's reports more entertaining than useful, as Trebonius was hardly a master strategist, and was only too happy to turn her spy over to Winterbell, although Winterbell was quite sure she received regular reports on Winterbell's actions. Winterbell talked to Gaydar merely to make sure he was still doing what she said, to give him some more instructions, and to ask one question. It didn't come as a surprise when the answer to the question was Ald'ruhn.

"The Morang Tong?" Marayan nearly fell out of his chair. As Winterbell had expected, he was in his room at the Eight Plates, writing carefully worded letters to the rest of his family. Winterbell's less-than-innocent enquiry had distracted him from his troubles, at least for a moment.
"You've heard of them, haven't you?" Winterbell peered out his window at the darkened street below.
"Of course I have, but why do you want them?"
"I need some information, and I reckon they'd be the most likely to have it." Winterbell tapped her teeth with a thumbnail and waited for an answer.
"All right, if that's what you want. My father once told me that their headquarters were under the Arena somewhere. I doubt they've moved since."
"Are they going to want visitors?"
"I don't think they kill people on sight. But if you want anything from them they're going to make you pay."
"I was afraid of that. I don't suppose you'd be interested in buying some Daedric weapons, would you?"
Marayan chuckled and then looked serious, "You haven't got a short sword, have you? Enchant it, and it's a deal."
"What do you want it for?"
"Can't you guess?" he asked with a grim smile.
Winterbell nodded, "I'll bring it round in an hour or so."

"Winterbell," Marayan got up and looked at her, "you need some sleep. You're going to have to be awake when they make you Captain, you know."
"I know, and I will, because," she glanced up, "afterwards I'll be going back to get my second staff."
"And all hell will break loose," Marayan said. "What in the world are you planning?"
"Only a minor revolution. Will you make sure that as many people as possible are here when the news gets through? I'm only going to say what I'm going to say once."
"Well, I could talk Skink into it…what about Trebonius?"
"Trebonius doesn't matter."
Marayan sank back into his chair, "You're really going to do it aren't you?"
"Or die trying."
"Yeah, I know the feeling," Marayan looked at his messy desk and then back up at Winterbell. "Hey, if we both survive- no, never mind. One thing at a time."
"Right, and the next thing is your sword. Then the Morang Tong. And then, Ald'ruhn."
"Winterbell, I've been turning what the slave told us over in my mind," Marayan began.
"And?"
"I don't see how I can get proof of what Orvas might be planning. I mean, the brothers – it would be impossible. And Vedam isn't going to take me at my word."
Winterbell paused with her hand on the door and shrugged, "Then find proof afterwards."
"And if there isn't any?"
"Find some anyway," she said with a smile.

Winterbell's visit to the Morang Tong was both interesting and expensive. It didn't thrill her, but her first act as a Guild Captain was going to be going through a lot of paperwork. A hunch was solidifying into certainty.

Winterbell took her wizard's staff with her when she went to Ald'ruhn and enough belongings to at least give the impression she was moving there. A dust storm was howling outside, as usual, as Winterbell was given a tour of the place before the officials from Vivec arrived.

Most of the staff seemed very pleased with their new boss, and Winterbell almost felt bad about getting their hopes up. But she had no intention of spending any more than the bare minimum of time in Ald'ruhn. She paid particular attention to the little school that was run from the Guildhall, and asked lots of questions of the thrilled teacher.

In a similar scene to the one at Balmora a few weeks earlier, Winterbell was promoted to Guild Captain. She signed the forms, and said the right words and to everyone's surprise went to Edwinna's desk and immediately attacked a pile of administrative paperwork with the enthusiasm of a Bosmer in an unattended shop. The Balmora mages had wished her well, but none had accompanied her to Ald'ruhn, which suited Winterbell.

Several hours later Winterbell was interrupted by a travel-weary and rather ash-stained visitor.
"I got back two days early, see? So I get a bonus," Eddie said, collapsing into a chair opposite Winterbell and sprinkling ash all over the floor.
"How did you get here? We shouldn't be seen talking – oh, I don't suppose it matters now. Did you get a reply?"
"Yes," Eddie said, and handed Winterbell a letter.
Winterbell put the letter aside and told Eddie to go and get something to eat, and maybe have a bath as well. "I may have more work for you," she said with a sadistic smile.

By the time Eddie got back Winterbell had found what she was looking for.
"Where am I going this time?" Eddie asked, with a depressed kind of fatalism.
"Mournhold," Winterbell said, shuffling papers.
"Really?" Eddie looked much more enthusiastic.
Winterbell just smiled and started explaining what she wanted Eddie to do there. By the time she had finished he was white as a sheet.

Winterbell read the letter Eddie had delivered and nodded to herself – things were coming along satisfactorily. Ranis might have been a stone-cold bitch, but she'd practically handed Winterbell a most convincing supporter on a platter.

Winterbell tried to get in contact with Marayan next, but no one seemed to have a clue where he was. She was rather unhappy about that, but trusted him not to get himself into too much trouble. Instead she went back to Sadrith Mora, to start counting up her supporters.

As she had expected, everyone except Nelos was happy to express cautious support. In Therena's case it was a weird statement of affection, which Winterbell supposed was good enough. The Mouths were aware of what was happening, but to an outsider it would have looked like business as usual. Gotheren's Mouth was icily polite, and Winterbell was the same, having no interest in swaying him, she turned her attention to Nelos himself.

Later, Aryon would tell her that she had been extremely foolhardy, and Baladas would murmur a comment about pushing her luck, but Winterbell went in and got exactly what she wanted; a blazing row.

Nelos made no secret of the fact that he had disliked Winterbell from the start, and after having to put up with staying in his tower after she first joined the house, the feeling was mutual. Winterbell guessed that Gotheren had reprimanded Nelos for allowing a mage to join the House right under his nose and stay in his tower.

"It doesn't look like he's going to let himself be convinced," Winterbell said mildly.
"That's because you marched into his tower and demanded that he give you his vote? I can't imagine what you were thinking," Master Aryon was actually on his feet, and was restraining himself from marching up and down. "All you've done is solidify his position – and you can bet he'll be reporting all of this to Gotheren, and crowing it all over the council. You just walked away, can't you see how bad that looks?"
"Dreadfully bad," Winterbell said cheerfully.
"You'd have been better off killing him where he stood. What are you hoping to get out of this?"
"I want to keep him alive. Because, if I can sway him, after all his public frothing and puffing, then no one is going to try and follow his lead."
"So you've got a plan?" Aryon calmed down somewhat, "What is it?"
"I'd rather not say," Winterbell looked at him steadily, "because even you might need some reminding about what I'm capable of."
Aryon sighed, "You have no subtlety, Winterbell. And I'm not afraid of you in the slightest. Still, if you want to play cat and mouse with Nelos I won't object – he's not the brightest star in the sky, and I have no doubt if you put your mind to it you can beat him. But antics like this aren't doing much for your popularity with everyone else."
"I was never popular to start off with, it's Gotheren you want out, not me you want in. And I haven't forgotten that, I assure you."
"So when are you going to take your place on the council? You've got Ald'ruhn."
"When my Mouth recovers from his last journey, and I have enough funds for his next one. And when someone dies at Nelo's tower."
"Is that likely?" Aryon asked.
"It's on the cards." Winterbell smiled, "But he can sit and stew until after I'm Archmage."

Winterbell went back to Ald'ruhn that evening, and after everyone was gone started crawling around on her hands and knees. After about a quarter of an hour she gave up and hobbled back into a chair.

"There has to be something else here," she muttered. "What if I hadn't become captain…"

Struck by a sudden thought, Winterbell hurried to the guest rooms near the Guild Guide platform and started opening all the drawers. It wasn't until she investigated the chest next to the bed that she found a stack of papers, apparently old administrative rubbish left there and forgotten. But Winterbell was very aware that their existence was no accident, and they had been left there specifically, and recently.

"Well, that solves my money problems," Winterbell muttered.

It would probably be a wise move, Winterbell thought, to practice some enchanting, and she rubbed her neck nervously.