On the day of her ascension to the Telvanni Council Winterbell visited the inn in Sedya Neen very early in the morning. She handed out rings of recall and instructions, and collected Eddie from the dock, where he had been putting his bags through customs – not to see if he was smuggling, but to make sure that there weren't any animals stowed away in his luggage that might have had blight. Ostensibly no one was supposed to leave the island because of the disease, but Winterbell observed the golden rule and after enough gold had changed hands Eddie had his passage booked.

Winterbell and Eddie traveled to Tel Banora where Master Aryon was waiting. Baladas had sent his formal congratulations via a letter, with a small postscript for Winterbell which merely read: Redoran says yes (how did you know?). Aryon masked his curiosity about it quite well, all things considered.

Eddie was the happiest person there, his eyes were shining and he was practically bursting with pride.

"Mother is going to be so pleased," he confided to Aryon's new mouth, who seemed a little put off by his colleague's Imperial style of dress and talking. Aryon quietly suggested that Eddie wear a robe from now on while he was on the east side of the island.

Winterbell had a headache. After this point there would be no turning back. She hadn't managed to get in contact with Marayan, and she hoped this was because he was busy rounding people up to attend her return to Balmora. Winterbell rubbed her temples and poured herself another cup of tea.

"You don't have to go back, you know," Aryon said coming in and experimentally shaking the tea pot before putting it back down. "It would make things a lot easier on you."
"I owe it to them. I have to go back. They don't deserve Trebonius." Winterbell sighed and looked into her tea cup. For the first time in a while considering just why she was running herself ragged for this impossible cause. She wished she could talk to Marayan about it.
"Some would argue they don't deserve you either," Aryon pointed out.
"Most medicine tastes bad," Winterbell said matter-of-factly. "And I'm about as bitter as they come."
"I wouldn't say that," Aryon smiled, "you've managed to mellow Baladas."
"More by luck than judgement. And he gave no indication of enjoying it at the time."
"Well, let's get on with it. Try not to get yourself killed by the mages this evening."
"Oh, don't worry, I'm bringing friends."

And so, with little ceremony, Winterbell gave her Staff of Peace to Eddie, Aryon gave another Staff of Peace to his new Mouth, and he also presented Winterbell with a rather battered Staff of War.
"It gives it more character than if I'd had it repaired." He shrugged at Winterbell's raised eyebrow.

Afterwards Aryon gave Eddie a quill and some paper so he could write to his mother and went to discuss strategy with Winterbell.
"No one's died at Nelos's tower."
"I know, it's rather disappointing, but I couldn't wait any longer."
"Well, you might be interested to know that something happened there a couple nights ago. Unfortunately no one's saying what. Some sort of break-in I gather, but Nelos has hushed it all up. He's blaming you, though. He said you'd bungled an assassination attempt."
"That's the best outcome I could have expected, I suppose. I think it will do nicely."
"What are you planning on doing?"
"Well, if I can make Gayar popular I can make Eddie scary, don't you think?"
Aryon glanced down at Eddie laboriously composing below and back at Winterbell, "I think you're mad. Still, you haven't failed yet, so I suppose I can't complain."
"Good, well, before Eddie thinks of something else to write I'd better be going."
"You're getting a lot of use out of him aren't you? Well, good luck, Councillor." He held out his hand and Winterbell shook it formally.
"That's Archmagister to you." She winked and walked downstairs to fetch Eddie.

They recalled back to Winterbell's house, and while Eddie looked around curiously at everything Winterbell examined the three staffs she had standing in an urn by the door.
"Which one, do you think?"
"I quite like the big white on-"
"It was rhetorical," Winterbell said, reluctantly putting the Staff of Magnus back. "Not that one, not quite yet."

Winterbell bade Eddie to be quiet and sit, and to no matter what to not answer the door. "The news should be spreading, but I'm not talking to anyone until I'm good and ready. And more importantly, until those other two get here."
"They don't look like much."
"I'm not intending to fight," Winterbell said shortly, "I'm merely intending to make a point. Now shut up."

Winterbell spent the afternoon sorting out some of her belongings. Eventually she indicated a pile and informed Eddie that he was to sell them at the earliest opportunity, and that he could keep a fifteen percent commission.
"Planning on moving out?" he asked.
"Well I do have my own tower…somewhere."

Around sunset Winterbell received two visitors, who arrived by magic to appear suddenly on her woollen rug. Gaydar immediately sat down, looking shaky, and Winterbell wondered if the reason he was so unpopular was because, secretly, he didn't like magic. She had to admit she'd never seen him show any inclination to use any.

Beside Gaydar was another mage, who glanced from Eddie to Winterbell with a look of extreme dislike.
"I'm really sorry about this," Winterbell said, with a modicum of sincerity, "but I do need your help."
"I suppose," Llarar Bereloth replied, "I was wise to give in when we met, all things considered."
"Now now, you joined because you wanted to, remember?"
The ex-Telvanni sighed, and found a spot to lean against the wall in silence. Winterbell still felt guilty for forcing him to join the Guild, but what had seemed mere avarice on Ranis's part had turned out to be a godsend for Winterbell. Unlike the other two, Llarar was articulate and intelligent, even if he wasn't exactly likeable.

Winterbell opened the window a crack and she guessed that it was time. Everyone would have had plenty of time to gather and to form and express their opinions. She wasn't expecting any help from Marayan, but even silence on his part would be taken to a certain extent as support, as she didn't think he was going to pretend to be surprised.

"Well, unless any of you have any more questions, we'd better be going." Winterbell slung the Wizard's Staff across her back, and held the Staff of War in her hand. She was going in as Telvanni now; the enemy.

With the three Guild and yet Telvanni mages trailing along behind, Winterbell made the longest journey across Balmora in her life. It was surreal; the town was quiet and peaceful, with people cheerfully discussing the warmer weather, and the guards on their rounds were the same as ever.

The Mage's Guild, however, was closed early. Winterbell took one last look around, and opened the door quietly.

There was little noise. Just faint conversation and Winterbell judged that everyone was waiting for her to arrive via magic. She smiled; it was good to have the element of surprise. Forget elemental fire or water, elemental surprise was the most powerful.

Winterbell didn't exactly sneak downstairs, but she did make a point of keeping quiet. She couldn't hear what people were saying, and she thought that might be a good thing. When she reached the ground floor she straightened her robes one more time and put her best foot, in this case, her left, forward.

"I'm so glad everyone could come," Winterbell said as she entered the room, her staff tapping on the stone floor. All heads turned to look at her and there were murmurs of surprise at the people behind her. Not only was Skink attending, but quite a few others as well, from both the Wolverine Hall and Vivec Guildhalls.
"What's going on?" Estirdalin looked quite alarmed, as if Winterbell had turned up with an army.
"What's Gaydar doing here?" Skink narrowed his eyes. Winterbell could see Marayan sitting at his desk, looking faintly worried, but keeping himself well out of things.
Winterbell held up her hands, "All in good time," she said.

"I, as most of you now know, am Winterbell, Guild Captain of Ald'ruhn and Councillor of the Great House Telvanni. Behind me are three mages who are also of House Telvanni." Gaydar looked horrified, but the other kept their polite expressions.
"And yet," Winterbell continued, "none of them have caused the Guild harm. Indeed, Gaydar has provided the only intelligible response to the Monopoly to come out of Vivec, as I'm sure you all know."
"Now I don't expect you to trust me very far. Just far enough to get rid of the millstone around your necks that is Trebonius. When I came here I was treated well and justly by you – as I was by House Telvanni, believe it or not. And now I will repay the debt. To all of you."
"You said, but you said…" Skink frowned.
"Have I told you an untruth?" Winterbell asked, and continued without waiting for an answer. "Don't think, for one second, that I am some Telvanni pawn. When I told Skink Telvanni was due for a change of leadership I meant it. Think not of this as a Telvanni running the Guild, but the Guild at the head of Telvanni."
"You're really planning on taking over Telvanni?" Estirdalin asked.
"I have the support of many in the Council," Winterbell said, "Aryon, Dratha, Demnivanni, even Threna – sort of."
Gaydar and Llarar looked more impressed by Winterbell's namedropping than the mages did, but at least the others were listening and not hurling fireballs.

"I can't believe so many of you knew about this," Estirdalin eyed Marayan and Ajira and even spared Sharn a stern glance.
"We've been over this," Ajira said, obviously referring to something discussed before Winterbell had arrived. "I still…Winterbell is my friend, and I believe her."
Winterbell smiled at Ajira, and resisted the urge to run over and hug her.

"I still don't believe this," Estirdalin rubbed her temples.
"Look, talk to these people," Winterbell indicated the three behind her, "See what they have to say about the Guild and Telvanni. We're hardly ever in direct competition as it is – there's no reason for them to be disloyal to either side."
"But we can't trust them."
"Of course not, I never said you could. Friends close and enemies closer remember?"
"And which are you?"
Winterbell shrugged, "I'm me. No more and no less. I've never lied to you, except by omission, and I've done my best for this Guild. And so have the people behind me."
"But why, Winterbell, why have you done all this?" Masaline looked genuinely confused and upset.
Winterbell merely shrugged, "Because I can. I don't have any greater reason than that." She grinned disarmingly, "Do I need one?"

The mages started arguing again, and Winterbell found a chair.
"Go on," she nodded at Eddie and the others, "Go and talk to them. The sooner this is over the sooner you can get on that boat. And the sooner Llarar can go home."

"We can't let you do this," Skink declared eventually.
"Why not? We can get rid of Trebonius by the rest of the Captains voting. You can do the same for me." She held up her hands, "If the Guild wants me to leave, I will. Now if you like, but I would rather see this through until the end. If I leave now, well, see for yourselves, the Guild is practically falling apart. And Trebonius is ultimately the cause of the trouble, believe me. It was he who let Ranis get away with everything, who hasn't given a coherent order in decades. That might be fine for Telvanni, but we're doing things, we have a responsibility to our customers. Telvanni merely exist – we do things."

There was a brief silence while everyone eyed each other suspiciously.
"Put it this way," Winterbell said, "Is anyone else planning on challenging Trebonius?"
"How do we know you'll leave when we ask?"
"How could I possibly stay if you wanted me out?"

Skink shrugged and turned to Estirdalin, "You know her better than I do, what do you think?"
Estirdalen looked at Marayan, who shrugged, Ajira, who nodded grimly, Sharn, who scowled and shook her head, Galbedine, who threw up her hands in exasperation and Masaline, who looked even more worried than ever.
"Winterbell has earned the trust of some of my closest friends, and during the First Seed festival I saw her fight for her friends without hesitation." She glanced at Marayan, "I can't in good conscience turn her away. I can only hope I'm making the right decision."
"As are we all," Skink added.