Even still, he probably won't give up the WK Mantle as he probably still feels responsible for Molly and will want to stay around for her

 

Am I the only one who thinks that the current Harry wouldn´t be no longer on the "acceptable" list of beings that can interact with such a holy artefact?
Or if you want another simple explanation of why it wouldn´t work on him say that he lacks the faith necessary for it to function.

I kind of hoped for a slower book with a heavier focus on some Dresden/Mab/Molly interaction, council politics and his fight against the parasite but considering how the last "slow" book turned out an action filled one may be better. (Especially one without Murphy.. she really rubbed me wrong in the last few books and I desperately need some distance to her).

Still it will be nice too see how Harry interacts with beings of a similar weight-class to him instead of the either massively underpowered or massively overpowered interaction we had the last few books.

 

Since when are there "acceptable" lists? there's no white list for handling items, it's just that with Denarians, the Swords are meant to be a weapon against them, as Soulfire can be, so that's why they hurt them. The Shroud doesn't hurt them.

Is there any Dresden canon for the possibility of sidhe with souls? only changelings? Does Molly even own her soul post becoming the WL? if so, she's the best candidate for a Coin, not Harry anymore.

 

There is a white list for the Swords of the Cross. Beings that have ill intent can't hold a Sword unless it's already been used counter to its purpose. Before Harry tried to use Amoracchius to get out of a deal in Grave Peril it couldn't be touched by vampires, fae, or other non-human creatures. Afterwards, Lea giftwrapped it and traded it off to Bianca for a certain ritual athame.

 

Anyone else think the Eebs might make an appearance in this book?

I remember Butcher saying in a Q&A somewhere, that its highly unlikely any of the Red Court would have survived the curse from Chichen Itza, unless they were somewhere deep in the Nevernever.

And we last saw the Eebs in the hands of the Goblin King, and I feel like if Nicodemus is calling in favors for an Ocean's 11 style crew, he might be able bring the Eebs off the bench.

 

They are well and truly dead.

 

I rather doubt people survive being in the hands of the Erlking, especially when Mab has a grudge against them.

In regards to Molly's soul: I figured that as long as she doesn't choose to use her new powers, she keeps her soul. Only if she chooses to use the mantle of the Winter Lady, will her soul start to disappear.

Of course: do or die still counts as a choice, so it's a bit unfair.

 

From a purely literary point of view, I can't see Jim abandoning such interesting characters after just one book. There was even that bit about the Eebs not being of the 'First Maya', which is a possible set up for them not being descendents of the Red King and therefore immune to the curse.

Plus they'd have been behind the wards of the Erlking, which I think could tank a curse like that. I don't see the goblins as being particularly quick in their torture either. I think we'll see them again, some time in the future.

 

I think the "not the first Maya" line was supposed to denote they were "born/created" after the Spanish invasion and the fall of the Empire, they were never worshiped as gods.

 

Found it. A couple that might have been out of range. And its hard to get more out of range than the Nevernever, in the court of the Erlking.

If you can think of any other Red Court vampires that this might be applicable too, then I'm happy to hear about it, but the Eebs seem like pretty great characters to bring back.

 

Even if for some reason they managed to duck the curse I have an incredibly hard time believing they'd escape the Erlking of all beings and his ninja terminator death squads. He hits roughly in the range of Mab/Titania and his entire shtick is specifically hunting down and killing extremely dangerous things. Unless somehow they managed to talk him into letting them join the Wild Hunt I think they're about as dead as dead gets in Dresdenverse.

 

And even then, they are only two people, mentally unstable. Dresden would wipe them out.

Sure they could make more, but they would be new, weak, and unorganized. The Reds were onyl dangerous due to the elite Nobles. And if they tried to make an army, the White Council would be down on them in a matter of seconds.

 

The Eebs came closer to killing Harry three times in one book than the entire rest of the Red Court combined. They may be deranged, but it's in a way that works for them.

Still, there is the matter of the Erlking and his court of goblins to consider. Unless the Eebs manage to bargain their way out (unlikely, but possible) or have some support from the inside that would help them escape. Also, the Wild Hunt is not impossible to escape; Harry's technically avoided it twice now, albeit by taking it over for one of them.

If the Red Court do come back I'd expect them to work more along the lines of the Black Court; sneaking around and avoiding direct confrontation. You know, the Eebs' modus operandi.

 

I thought that's the White Court's MO, Mavra doesn't really sneak around.

Also, the first time Harry was let go because of his courage/insanity and for summoning Sue, the second time he was given the Hunt.
I don't see the same thing happening to the Eebs, since Mab had a grudge against the Reds. 'Revenge is a dish best served cold' indeed.

 

There may be a day when the Erlking is no more, though.

 

I've got to be honest, I don't understand in what context you mean this at all.

Aek: Harry avoided it because the first time the Erlking simply respected the earth shattering balls his little stunt took and allowed him to go and the second time the Erlking flat out wanted him to take over. If the Erlking had actually wanted to catch and kill him Im positive that he would have caught and killed him.

 

Clearly I need to read Changes again, but why are we assuming that the Erlking is going to kill the Eebs?

Couldn't there just be lots and lots of torture?

The Erlking is all about the hunt. There's not a lot of hunting involved with your own prisoners/torturees.

 

They broke into his territory, lost the duel, tried to escape afterwards. The EK would not let that pass.

 

Sidhe tend to do things like freeze the liquid in people's eyes for simply doubting their word. The Eebs broke into the Erlkings home, showed no respect and blatantly broke his rules about a fair fight. I wouldn't be surprised if he's using their skin as a throne cushion after that.