are. But the Master of Shadows doesn’t prefer to operate that way, no.” Nicodemus’s control over the gang of superpowered lunatics was starting to make more sense now. “Master of Shadows. That’s an old, old phrase for a spy master.” “Exactly,” Kringle said. “Nicodemus knows very nearly as much as I do. Anduriel has the potential to hear anything uttered within reach of any living being’s shadow, and sometimes to look out from it and see.”

Butcher, Jim. Skin Game (The Dresden Files, Book 15) (pp. 373-374). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

So what does Vadderung/Kringle know that Nicodemus doesn't?

Personally I thinks its something very specific, one thing in particular that could be a huge advantage over the Nickelheads.

So I think this theory has been brought up before, but thought I'd mention it again.

Malcolm appears to Harry in a few dream sequences in Dead Beat. During the scene they hang around a campfire while a creature called a Jabberwock haunts the trees.

‘So,’ I said. ‘Why haven’t I dreamed about you before?’
 ‘Because I wasn’t allowed to contact you before,’ my father said easily. ‘Not until others had crossed the line.’
 ‘Allowed?’ I asked. ‘What others? What line?’
He waved a hand. ‘It isn’t important. And we don’t have much time here before it returns.’

Butcher, Jim. Dead Beat: 7 (The Dresden Files series) (pp. 105-106). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

Given that we know Uriel arranged for Butters as an 'incipient knight' to intervene with Cassius, we know he was active in pulling some of the strings in Dead Beat.

“When Cassius Snakeboy was about to gut me, I remember thinking that no Knight of the Cross was going to show up and save me.”
 “Cassius was a former Knight of the Blackened Denarius,” Uriel said. “It seems appropriate that he should be countered by an incipient Knight of the Cross. Don’t you think?”

Butcher, Jim. Skin Game (The Dresden Files, Book 15) (p. 441). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

We know that Uriel can only act as a reaction of whenever someone evil acts, it seems to fit with what Malcolm briefly tells Harry. That they crossed a line so he was allowed to contact him. Also Malcolm specifically mentions angels and fallen angels. So presumably he's the counter balance to Lasciels Shadow who appears for the first time in Dead Beat.

‘No one can tell you that,’ he said. ‘Not me. Not an angel. And not a fallen angel. You are the product of your own choices, Harry, and nothing can change that. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.’

Butcher, Jim. Dead Beat: 7 (The Dresden Files series) (pp. 106-107). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

Malcolm mentions that Harry has friends on the other side.

‘But it doesn’t mean you’ve got to be alone before you go through the door. And believe me, you aren’t alone on the other side.’

Butcher, Jim. Dead Beat: 7 (The Dresden Files series) (p. 390). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

Malcolm also emphasises Harry's choices and free will which is pretty much Uriels entire purpose.

You didn’t do what you did for your own benefit. You did it so that you could protect others. That doesn’t make it right – but it doesn’t make you a monster, either. You still have free will. You still get to choose what you will do and what you will be and what you will become.’ He clapped my shoulder and turned to walk away. ‘As long as you believe you are responsible for your choices, you still are. You’ve got a good heart, son. Listen to it.’

Butcher, Jim. Dead Beat: 7 (The Dresden Files series) (p. 390). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

So all this together makes a pretty compelling case that Malcolm works for Uriel.

I also like the idea that Murphy and Harry's fathers work together. Murphy's father was adament that Harry not tell her about him, so it's possible Harry's father stayed out of the way for that particular mission as well.

Ghost Story information about the squad.
So the squad is “Between” with their own guardian angel Amitiel, standing doorman and watchdog.
According to Jack Murphy, Dresden was in Between and they could facilitate his return to earth albeit as a ghost because.

“The opposition” Jack said. “You died because they cheated”
“Wait. What opposition?”
“The angel standing guard at the elevator is what we cops think of as a clue. You need me to draw you some pictures?”
“Um. Hell you mean? Like… actual Fallen angels?”
“Not exactly. But if you want to think of it that way, it works. Sort of. What you need to know is that they’re the bad guys”
“That’s why I’m here” I said. “Because they… broke some sort of cosmic rule”
“You were getting in their way. They wanted you gone. They broke the law to make it happen. That makes you my problem”

So pretty explicitly stated that the squad could only act because the Fallen acted first and broke the cosmic law. Now interestingly enough Dresden is actually offered a choice between going back and solving his own murder or getting a job on the squad.

“Look kid you’re stuck here. You aren’t going anywhere until we get this discrepancy sorted out”
…..
He shrugged “You want a job here instead, I can set you up”

Now Jack specifically tells Harry not to tell Murphy about him. Possibly due to some cosmic law.

“No messages. I’ve done her enough harm”

Now for Uriels big reveal towards the end of the book.

“Jack told you” Uriel said. “They cheated. The scale had to be balanced”
I shook my head “That office in Chicago Between. It was yours”
“One of them” he said nodding “I have a great deal of work to do. I recruit those willing to help me”
“What work?” I asked.
“The same work I ever have done” Uriel said. “I and my colleagues labor to ensure freedom”
“Freedom of what?” I asked.
“Of will. Of choice. The distinction between good and evil is meaningless if one does not have the freedom to choose between them. It is my duty, my purpose in Creation, to protect and nourish that meaning”

Uriels purpose explicitly stated and explained. Uriel goes on to explain how a fallen angel could have the knowledge and insight to suggest something at a precise moment to engineer a desired outcome. Specifically he’s talking about Lasciel.

Uriels actions were to counter that of Lasciel. Just like Malcolm Dresden was specifically used as an action against Lasciels Shadow.

Last mention of Between is when Uriel gives Sir Stuart a job.

“Trust me. The ruins of a spirit like Sir Stuart’s are more substantial than most men ever manage to dredge up. I’d be very pleased to have you working for me”

So there needs to be something spiritually significant for a man to get a job in the Between. Evryone is pretty firm on the fact that Malcolm Dresden was a good man.

Anyway Theirs my evidence and theory. Comment, discuss, disprove, theorise away.

So I just reread Even Hand and Marcone used a bullet that killed Admiral Nelson at Trifalgar, it made me wonder what other bullets Gard could provide Marcone with.

The three that come to mind for me are Abraham Lincoln bullet shot by John Wilkes Booth's Derenger, Archduke Ferdinand at the outbreak of World War 1 and also JFK

Any other that come to mind?

Any recommendations for other steampunk books and series?

Me personally I can recommend Tales of the Ketty Jay and Mortal Engines.

Given his position and mantle, I think the Gatekeeper has what Harry has on Deamonreach, only with the Outer Gates. It makes sense as a requirement of being Gatekeeper that his sanctum is the Outer Gates, it would be a huge advantage when directing Winter's forces against the Outsiders.

Their's also the fact that Rashid has experience with Intellectus with his experience with Demonreach, here's everything we know of Rashid and Demonreach and his experience with Intellectus.

"I know a Way. I've been here before."....
"Demonreach" the Gatekeeper mused. "It's...certainly fitting."
"The ley line you speak of does not go through the island" he said. "This is where it wells up. The island is its source."

Quote

Now theirs also the fact that Gatekeeper has some ability to see into the future or send messages from the future. As confirmed by Bob in Proven Guilty in his discussion on time.

Quote from:  Proven Guilty; Chapter Six[/quote

"Oh the Gatekeeper didn't do it to annoy you" Bob said "He did it to prevent any chance of paradox"
...
"He got this form hindisght, he had to" Bob said
"Hindsight" I murmured. "You mean he went to the future for this?"
"Well" Bob hedged "That would break one of the Laws, so probably not. But he might have sent himself a message from there, or maybe gotten it from some kind of prognosticating Spirit. He might even have developed some ability for that himself. Some wizards do"

 But their is a direct example in Turn Coat.

Quote from: Turn Coat; Chapter 39

Then he did something strange. He exhaled slowly, his living eye closing. The gleaming steel eye tracked back and forth, as if looking at something, though I could only tell it was moving because pf the twitches of his other eyelid. A moment later, the Gatekeeper opened his eye and said. "The chances that you'll survive it are minimal".

Then the fact that Harry is on the island changes things

Quote from: Turn Coat; Chapter 39

He frowned at me and then repeated the little ritual. Then he made a choking sound. "Blood of the Prophet. he swore, opening his eyes to stare at me. "You... You've claimed this place as a sanctum"
....
The Gatekeeper shook his head slowly. "Harry" he said, his voice weary. "Harry you don't know what you've done"

Quote

Quote from: Turn Coat; Chapter Forty Six

"Messenger arrived from Rashid," Ebenezar said. He's more familiar with what you can do with what you can do with that kind of bond.

Clearly Gatekeeper knows what Demonreach is for which given his position as Gatekeeper and the following information makes sense. Both Demonreach and the Outer Gates were designed to combat Outsiders, Dark Gods, Powerful spirits e.t.c. The fact that he's familiar with the bond is all but confirmation that Gatekeeper has his own bond with the Gates.

Quote from: Turn Coat:Chapter 39

"First" he said "do not tap into the power of this place's well. You are years away from being able to handle such a thing without being altered by it."
....
"I cannot set foot on the island" he said
"Why not?"
"Because this place holds a grudge" he said

Now we have this WOJ partially explaining/hinting at the cause of that grudge.

Quote from: Word of Jim

Also, people have a few things wrong about the Gatekeeper and the island.  The Gatekeeper did not hurt Demonreach.  Gatekeeper has been on the island a couple of times, and it’s never gone well, but he didn’t cause Demonreach’s limp.  That’s the work of the glacier that carved out Lake Michigan.
....
Sarks: What did the Gatekeeper do to Demonreach to make it hold a grudge?
Jim: 2) He focused the tank. Oh, wait, no, it's a little more complicated than just a positive-negative situation, and while I don't go into the specifics, yet, you get all the pieces you need in Cold Days.

Which brings us to Cold Days.
Now first their is a description of what limits the Gatekeepers, Foresight/Hindsight in Proven Guilty thats relevant.

Quote from:  Proven Guilty; Chapter Six

"Because if he significantly altered what happened with his knowledge of the future it could cause all sorts of temporal instabilities. It could cause new parallel realities to split off from the point of alterations he couldn't predict or kind of backlash into his consciousness and drive him insane"
....
"But if your car never got stolen" Bob said "then how did he come to know to come back and warn you?"
I frowned
"That's paradox and it can have all kinds of nasty backlash. Theory hold that it could even destroy our reality if it happened in a weak enough spot."
.....
"If it's done subtly enough, indirectly enough you can get all kinds of things changed. Like for example, he tells you that your car is going to be stolen. So you move it to a parking garage, where instead of getting stolen by the junkie who was going to shoot you and tale the car on the street, you get jacked by a professional who takes the car without hurting you- because by slightly altering the fate of the car, he indirectly alters yours"

Okay Cold Days.

Quote from: Cold Days; Chapter 33

He leaned over to scan each of the fallen closely, nodding at the medics after each.
....
The other eye had been replaced with the crystalline material that was identical to that which had been used to create the gates and the walls around them.
....
"But they need a good eye here to be sure that the things that must remain outside do not slip in unnoticed"
....
"Oh" he said waving a hand "You've danced about in the shadows at the edge of life now young man. That's no small thing, to go into those shadows and come back again----You've no idea the kind of attention you've attracted"
....
I nodded thinking. "okay" I said. "First how do you know if the adversary has... infected someone?"
"Experience" he said. "Decades of it. The Sight can help but.." Rashid hesitated
.....
'I don't recommend making a regular practice out of it" he continued "It's an art not a skill and it takes time. Time or a bit of questionable attention from the Fates and a ridiculously enourmous tool" He tapped finger against his false eye.
....
"Hells bells. The gates, they're, some kind of spiritual CAT scanner"
"Among many other things" he said "But it's one of their functions yes. Mostly it means that the adversary cannot use such tactics effectively here. As long as the Gatekeeper is vigilant it rarely tries"

NOw keep in mind we have this quote to go off.

“So we found out who 2 of them were, i’d like to know how many of the rest we already know and how many of them haven’t been formally introduced to us yet.”
Hang on, counting… You already know six of the folks who showed up at Chichen Itza, excluding McCoy and Vadderung


Now also keep in mind Listens-to-wind was down for the count recovering in Edinbrough because of the plague that Duchess Arianna Ortega had unleashed.

Similarly Carlos was locked up, with Anastasia Luccio dealing with the political fall out.

The Merlin isn't a joiner given that the Grey Council was founded in part out of suspiscion of him, and if found out they would be declared enemies of the White Council.


SO who else do we think is on the Grey Council?

Chauncer aka Steed could be a member but I think he's a bit young for it.

Klaus the Toymaker might be a member but I suspect he's another identity of Vadderung/Kringle.

Other than that I struggle to come up with 6 wizards let alone prospective members powerful enough to take part in the Battle of Chitchzen Itza.

Any thoughts?

Do you think we'll ever get the full story of how a Knight ended up fighting against the Red Coats in the Colonial Marines?