The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Mab’s long-term investment in, and short-term manipulation of, Harry Dresden

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KurtinStGeorge:

--- Quote from: Arjan on December 30, 2020, 08:11:08 PM ---I do not think Harry was concerned about the malks not up to the task. He might have been concerned about the collateral damage.

--- End quote ---

I'm not saying Harry was concerned that the malks weren't up to the task, though I do think the malks were more appropriate as retaliation than a direct counter.  Harry was obliviously concerned with the collateral damage they would create.  I'm saying that Mab forced Harry to use his reason and engaged his emotions at the same time.  The two can go together in the right situation combined with the proper motivation.  Mab got Harry to think of a solution that limited or eliminated the risk of collateral damage, but she didn't mind a bit, in fact welcomed Harry becoming more emotionally involved in the coming struggle.  She even told him to "be himself."   
 

--- Quote from: Arjan on December 30, 2020, 08:11:08 PM ---Mab probably expected a fomorian betrayal in some form because like what Lea said in bombshells that is their nature and knowing Mab she had a lot to do with choosing ground. Placing caches with weapons is a good way of preparing the ground without being too obvious.

And her attack was obvious. Marcone commented on it.

--- End quote ---

Of course Mab did.  Ethniu is one of the most predictable; and therefore less interesting, villains to have appeared in the series to date.  I actually started writing a much longer post; like three times as long, that went into details about how Mab; and Odin, must have been preparing for Fomor betrayal or the reappearance of Ethniu for a long-time.  Plus, I had other details about Toot and the little folk organizing and why Mab may have wanted Harry to start utilizing them.  It was really bloated, was becoming highly speculative and needed to be cut way down before I posted it. 


--- Quote from: Arjan on December 30, 2020, 08:11:08 PM ---Actually what Mab is more complicated than that and wants him to do is use his reason, Harry must master the mantle in some way. The mantle is not that smart and he must provide the brains. Winter emotions should never override his reason. And Mab also appreciated that Harry felt the losses of his banner, he probably could have muted the feelings using winter.

--- End quote ---

Read the first point I made.  It addresses part of what you say here.  However, you are wrong in one respect.  Winter emotions did overcome Harry when he jumped off of Marcone's castle and ran towards an enemy he had no firm intel on in terms of their numbers or their capabilities.  That's why I believe that Mab recognized that River Shoulders would look out for Harry or the big guy was approached beforehand and asked to look out for Harry, until Harry could get his bearings and start controlling himself.  Mab wanted Winter's ferocity combined with a directing intelligence. 

However, the long-term effect is that Harry is becoming more comfortable calling upon Winter and that is exactly what Mab has been aiming at for some time.  It serves multiple purposes.  The short-term purpose was dealing with Ehniu and the Fomor, the long-term purpose is what Ebenezer was warning Harry about, without realizing that Mab is already most of the way there.

Arjan:
Nobody agreed with Harry when he jumped off that castle but it was not winter emotions that caused that, it was is very human Harry emotions as recognized by Mab when Ebenezer tried to argue against him doing such things.

KurtinStGeorge:

--- Quote from: Arjan on January 04, 2021, 05:22:37 AM ---Nobody agreed with Harry when he jumped off that castle but it was not winter emotions that caused that, it was is very human Harry emotions as recognized by Mab when Ebenezer tried to argue against him doing such things.

--- End quote ---

My use of language was incorrect.  You are right, it was Harry's own emotions which caused him to open himself up to Winter.  However, it all started with Mab engaging Harry to think about the collateral damage she would cause by unleashing the malks and was brought to fruition by Odin and company ignoring the human suffering happening around them.  Read that scene again, it's on page 83.  Ebenezer was the only character who wanted Harry to hold back.  Mab stood still and showed her teeth.  No one else said a word or did anything, for that matter.  I'm not certain if anyone beside Ebenezer, Mab and River Shoulders were even looking in Harry's direction when he jumped.

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