https://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/peace-talks-16/peace-talks-chapter-3
That was kind of disappointing.
I didn't find it so, but the big question is,
Who is going to stab Harry in the back? If it turns out to be Rashid or Listens to Wind I am going to be really pissed!
Ah Harry, bold of you to assume Eb doesn't know who Thomas is. Anyway. I think it's interesting that Eb shows hostility to Thomas and then warns about someone close to Harry stabbing him in the back. I think we're supposed to connect these two things. Even if it's a red herring, having it in our minds is good when we know Thomas gets busted for causing trouble.
I would have thought that Eb would know who's on the Senior Council's protection detail b/c surely Carlos would have told them. Though maybe he didn't say anything b/c he didn't want people to say boo about who he chooses as security. Or maybe he's the one to backstab Harry. Or Carlos could be a red herring as well, only 'backstabbing' Harry b/c he doesn't trust him to be himself. Kinda like how Butters didn't trust Harry at first.
The Black Council trying to kick Harry out of the council seems like a double edged sword since it means that while Harry isn't protected by them, they aren't protected from him. But points for using legal loopholes.
I'm disappointed in the svartalves. Ebenezer could pull a satellite down on them, sure. He's one of the top combat wizards in the world. But in a direct one on one brawl, on their home turf, the svartalves couldn't block him? They clearly had the right. They might be hesitant to start a political incident...but in that case, their protection is not worth much.
I figured the conflict of interest between being on the Council and being Winter Knight was coming since the moment Harry took the mantle. It just took us a few books to get the White Council back in center stage. Losing his Council status is probably the first step to being named as a threat to the Council and going on their most wanted list. It'll probably cause a schism in the Council between the old and new guard. Which is probably advantageous to the Black Council.
I'm really surprised that in her home, under her guest rights, Eb called Molly a warlock. She's the Winter Lady. He's going to Peace Talks held under Mab's Accords. Is he trying to piss Winter off? Is White Council going to be that stupid in person?
I think Ebenezer does know about Thomas being Harry's half brother and is be cagey on purpose. He probably knows more about Thomas than we've been privy too, including some past acts Ebenezer holds a grudge for. Maybe he played a role Margaret's disappearance. Eb might be trying to save Harry the heartache (not to mention the anger) of revealing what he knows, so he's hitting Harry with clue bats.
Last...why didn't Harry introduce Eb to Maggie? Eb knows about her from Chicken Pizza. I wager Eb knows she's living with Harry. She's just in the other room. They're eating her pancakes. Maybe in Chapter 4 as a way to defuse things...
The Black Council trying to kick Harry out of the council seems like a double edged sword since it means that while Harry isn't protected by them, they aren't protected from him. But points for using legal loopholes.
Not particularly. As an unaffiliated practitioner, even if he discovered who some of the Black Council members were to go after them, the White Council isn't going to believe him that they're traitors, and would take any action against members as a declaration of war. Harry is still a long way from able to go solo against them, and unless Mab outright orders the hit to remove an outsider collaborator, she won't appreciate him dragging Winter into a fight with the Council.
Ebenezar (for as long as he's still alive) is better positioned to cap any traitors they do discover.
Where was Maggie when all this was going on? Was she she still hiding in Harry's room while they ate her pancakes?
That was kind of disappointing.
Yes, it has! I've read most of the chapter mentally shouting "stop talking nonsense and go to speak with ". I am very angry. Specially because if Eb dies in this book, without actually talking with Maggie, perhaps without knowing that he has another grandson, that he has a grand-grandchild coming, I will be really mad. For the first time ever I think Thomas may die, but this conversation with Eb is enraging me to no end.
Also, is Eb thinking that Thomas and Harry are lovers? That is what he seemed to say but harry did not react as I expected.
When is Christmas' story happening? After PT or after BG?
Reading all this got me thinking (related):
What if the betrayal involves Eb setting up Thomas for political purposes of the White Council?
It would fulfill several of these loose ends and cause one hell of a kerfuffle amongst all the parties.
Wow! This makes a great deal of sense to me. It also explains the scene in the trailer when Eb says to Harry, "Boy! Tell me, you ain't dumb enough to try this." and Harry not only responds that he's dumb enough, he pulls up a shield or is drawing up his power. I don't mean that Harry is directly squaring off with Ebenezer, I mean he's going against the plan Eb set into motion.
About Harry not mentioning Nemesis; well, Harry has to be very circumspect about how he brings up this topic with anyone, even Ebenezer. Also, Nemesis isn't the direct threat in this situation. In some deeper discussion about the Black Council it might be worth bringing up, but right now Harry has to worry about who might stick the knife in his back and the person or faction on the Council that is giving them their marching orders. That Nemesis might be or probably is the ultimate string puller is almost irrelevant. Even if Harry knew that; just as an example, Cristos had been turned by Nemesis and was behind the plot against him, Harry can't do anything to Nemesis; at least not yet, he can only move against its agent.
Om the topic of preview chapters; sure, it would be nice if we got five preview chapters, but I remember there was one book where we only got Jim reading three chapters at a book signing that was posted on YouTube and nothing more until the book was released. So even if we only get one more preview chapter that's better than just three.
Disappointment: I really wanted Harry to say to Ebenezer: "Sir, about the vampire. He's my half-brother,... and your grandson. I thought you should know, if you didn't already" Harry did have enough time to say that much.
Maybe Eb heard there's a plot going on in WCV area and figures this is the last straw?
I've been thinking that Thomas may have gotten Venatori orders that someone big-possibly Evanna-was nemfected and that he had to take her/them out. Lara doesn't know this b/c she's too busy with the PT do it and Thomas is considered more disposable. If he gets these orders a little bit before the PT, then maybe that could be the reason that he seems so reluctant to be father; he's already resigned to the fact that he'll die.
@Mira: I think it's denial. It's just that he's aware that and to compensate for that, he acts really aggressive/double down.