The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Winter Lady Restrictions
g33k:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on October 21, 2022, 12:00:44 PM --- The tense of the phrase when Mab talks to Harry in the snow storm is past tense. Not I will choose, but I have chosen. Which is why the Gruff's attacked at Michael's.
--- End quote ---
It is perhaps another instance (like "outright lying" vs "mere deception") of where "Faerie Rules" are grossly unfair to mortals.
Mab chose Harry; evidently she "named" him as Emissary. That made him a target for Summer.
Only later did she actually get his agreement to serve as Emissary. I suspect faerie law has some sort of escape-clause (something Harry is/was ignorant of).
g33k:
--- Quote from: Ed0517 on October 21, 2022, 05:08:59 AM --- Titania attacked him at the beginning of Small Favor before Mab even shows up. He's not her Emissary at that point... Titania may simply want him dead for Aurora.
--- End quote ---
It seems possible (indeed more than possible, but probable) that Mab declared Harry as her Emissary, and thus painted a Summer Target onto Harry.
Because we know the Queens cannot actually have a mortal directly killed, except via their Knights.
So Titania having the Gruffs attack is solid proof that Harry doesn't have mortals' normal workaday immunity.
--- Quote from: Ed0517 on October 21, 2022, 05:08:59 AM --- ... He's not her Emissary at that point. He has to take the job. He has no standing in Winter at that time.
--- End quote ---
Unless he is her Emissary, simply by fiat of the Queen of Air and Darkness (or maybe it's Harry's "3 services" bargain, plus her word). He may not need to actually "accept" the job.
As noted, Titania's attack seems pretty solid evidence that Harry does indeed have "standing" as a Winter agent...
vincentric:
This is just a simple matter of timing.
Mab learns of Marcone's kidnapping and names Harry as her Emissary, Titania immediately knows of the appointment because they are linked but Harry doesn't. So in the time before Mab tracks down Harry and notifies him of the favor being called, Titania sends the Gruffs on the hunt. And because Jim has to make Harry's life difficult, he has Mab take her sweet time getting to Harry and informing him.
g33k:
--- Quote from: vincentric on October 21, 2022, 06:24:08 PM ---This is just a simple matter of timing.
Mab learns of Marcone's kidnapping and names Harry as her Emissary, Titania immediately knows of the appointment because they are linked but Harry doesn't. So in the time before Mab tracks down Harry and notifies him of the favor being called, Titania sends the Gruffs on the hunt. And because Jim has to make Harry's life difficult, he has Mab take her sweet time getting to Harry and informing him.
--- End quote ---
There is something else going on, though... as I recall, the deal is that Mab is owed 3 services, but that Harry gets to choose. He can Nope out from any given service.
Maybe ... hmmm, maybe Mab's choice is valid *until* he Nope's out?
(as usual, the mortal's ignorance isn't Mab's problem, and Harry is ignorant that Mab named him Emissary)
So she lets him get attacked.
THEN tells him he's her Emissary.
But she doesn't tell him he can still Nope out... and presumably (with Harry no longer her Emissary) that would stop the attacks.
Very fae, very letter-of-the-law deceptive.
I'd have to go back and re-read both the scene where Harry and Mab originally seal the "3 Services" bargain, and the scene where they negotiate this specific "save Marcone" service, to see if such an interpretation *actually* fits the specific agreements.
morriswalters:
--- Quote ---Which meant that I'd be an idiot not to check for razor blades and cyanide.
"I decide which requests I fulfill and which I don't?"
"Even so."
"And if I refuse a request, there will be no reprisals or punishments from you."
She tilted her head and blinked her eyes, slowly. "Agreed. You, not I, will choose which requests you fulfill."
There was one land mine I'd found, at least. "And no more selling my mortgage, either. Or whistling up the lackeys to chastise or harass me by proxy. This remains between the two of us."
She laughed, and it sounded as merry, clear, and lovely as bells—if someone pressed them against my teeth while they were still ringing. "As your godmother did. Fool me twice, shame on me, wizard? Agreed."
--- End quote ---
I put in bold the hook that Mab hung Harry on. The lie is, she won't punish Harry for not taking the job, but she gives him the job anyway knowing that Titania will attempt to kill him.
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