He had made the decision, even if he didn't remember why he made that decision.  But before he heard the words, it was hopeless, there was nothing he could do.  It was only after he was told it was all his fault was he willing to take that extra step.

But again, we've gone and done this over and over, nobody's getting their minds changed.

There were two decisions. The one about going to Mab and the one about killing himself.

As I see it he made both decisions before his memory was changed but because his memory was changed he had to make his first decision again. Besides every decision is only definitely made when you start acting and reach a point of no return.

Harry called Uriel to make sure he did not miss a better alternative and to get some sort of approval for his choice to make. But the real decision for the knighthood was made when he killed Slate.

No, the theory is that Lasciel is back, not Lash.  Personally, I think the end of the Lash storyline was so perfect, so calm and beautiful, that to bring her back would cheapen it to worthlessness.

Lash is the only logical candidate for the parasite. We have woj that both are back and mentioned not by name in Ghost Story. At the moment the remnants of Lash live of Harries soul. With just enough power to help keep the body alive, something Lasciel would not do.

It was not just Murphy's job that was at stake in Dead Beat. Prison or worse was a real possibility.

We have confirmation that it was a genuine Fallen Angel, not the shadow of one.

Besides. Lash as the whisperer does not make sense.

I think it probably was a treacherous gift, though it may have been a relatively simple gambit.  One common aspect of dragons is a tendency to hoard treasure.  The contents of the coffer might have been something shiny that would occupy Ferrovax's attention while the Black Council made moves in an area that he'd normally be watching or guarding.  Less of a bribe and more of a "Look!  A distraction!"  Ferrovax was once set as some sort of cosmic guardian; might he have been tasked with minding the Outer Gates?

Alternatively, it could have been a bribe, or a gift with some type of corrupting influence, or any number of things.  From Ferrovax's reaction (from what I remember, he was at least mildly impressed by the quality of the gift), the thing itself was either impressive in its value or its appropriateness to the situation (or both).

I think it was a bribe and an appropriate gift.

A treacherous gift could give interesting results though. I still do not know what the treacherous gift to Lea did achieve for the Black Council but it turned Mab into an enemy eager to use Harry against them.

If they made Ferrofax into an enemy......

Lara was operating as an ally of the white council and Harry in particular. Certainly from Cowls point of view. Clearly something had to be done and replacing the current leadership was an obvious thing to do.

At the end of the duel the original plan had failed so vitto called for his backup. He probably wanted to do that from the beginning but cowl would prefer a quieter solution if possible.

Once the gouls were called in merely killing the raiths was not an option. Vitto could not hold the white court against the nobles of the other two houses. He had lost the duel. He was dead. The other houses would probably kill him sooner or later. His only option was to kill them all and start again with the lesser white court vampires he could dominate. Cowl went along with it. It would result in a white court totaly in his pocket. A white court controlled by malvora would be less predictable.


 

I still dont get it - what bargain exactly would Mab have made? This theory all seems so nebulous compared to Knnn's which clearly spells out what was going on and why.  And it all fits.  That's why I like it.

My objection was that - given what happened to Lea - I cant see Mab making any kind of bargain with the BC.  She wouldnt trust them and she'd be in no mood to make bargains.

Trust is not necessary for a bargain with the Fae because breaking a bargain with the Fae will give them power over you. Mab could very well have hoped for the other parties betrayal.  Compare with Harrys deal with Nicodemus in small favor that counted on Nicodemus betrayal. And Fae love making bargains. If the BC had something really interesting to offer she would go for it. If it fitted into her purpose. Trying to trick her would backfire on a big scale though.