Are you sure that he didn't mean that he had to have the manuscript turned in 8 to 12 weeks after that book?

His quote was "Peace Talks will be out (emphasis mine) 8 to 12 weeks after that", so I assume he meant what he said. So, that would make its release date in September or October.

The swords are a great responsibility bestowed on Harry with trust. Being their custodian means that a higher power deems Harry worthy. Bob is a magical weapon that Harry stole or saved because he understood its value. Harry has a more personal feeling about Bob than swords.

I'd wager that Harry would rather save a friend than the swords.

Thank you. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't think Murphy is some kind of arrogant, power-playing manipulator just out to screw Dresden (or at least, the most vocal) and it's nice to get a little support now and again.

I'm actually flummoxed about that interpretation of her. She and Harry went through some incredibly rough times since Changes and it is natural that him coming back to life with the burden of the hyper-aggressive mantle would put even additional strain on both of them, aside from all the other issues Harry's death brought on.

But, given those circumstances, I'm always very happy to see how much absolute trust Murphy has for Harry as a person and how, especially in Skin Game, she was willing to set aside her own problems to help him out, without asking anything in return.

That is simply not true.

It's entirely Butters' distrust of Dresden that creates the incident.

Butters the one who secretly put a tracking and listening device on Dresden.

Butters is the one who thought Dresden was going to turn on them.

Butters is the one who fled to the Swords.

Meanwhile, Murphy is only involved at all because she shows complete trust in Dresden. He comes to her and asks her to walk into Hades with him, surrounded by literal demons and monsters, then tells her that he can't tell her crucial parts of the plan, and she instantly and completely accepts that.

That is complete, unflinching trust.

Summed it up perfectly.

Murphy wants that old Harry back, and he isn't ever going to come back.  She should understand that, she has seen and taken part in enough of Harry's world, but somehow she doesn't.  I think the contrast between Harry's conversations with her verses his conversations with Michael in Skin Game says it all.  Michael accepts the changes both in Harry and in his life, and he also trusts who Harry is in his core being.  Murphy doesn't, that is at the crux of it I think, she plays lip service to trusting him, but her actions/words say different..  I don't think she realizes it yet though, she means well, but all her concern for Harry not being the way he used to be only put an almost unbearable amount of self doubt in Harry.  That is not good, not for Harry given his tasks ahead.   For me that is what is annoying these days about their relationship, her observations and advice for Harry is all based on how his life used to be..  It is kind of like a parent of an adult kid who cannot accept that kid is grown and living a different life now, I believe the phrase is, "You never used to act this way...."

Yeah, I disagree completely. Karrin has been one of the most accepting people about Harry's changes, together with Michael and Molly. I think you are reading your own feelings about Murphy into her actions.

Which would be worse for her if she is a devote Catholic as you say because she'd be an instrument of a pagan religion.

With whom she had no problems interacting (sparring and the like), so, yeah. Her religion is a complicated issue. I don't want to her to stay dead and out of the story, anyway, so I'm all for her going Valkyrie. If she really dies, that is.

I meant to say that she could go to Valhalla because she is a warrior, Gard would say that.  She could also go straight through the door to Judgement, as you say she has that kind of faith... But I think peace and happiness for her would be joining her father and working for Uriel.

That is actually not peace and happiness, as was noted in Ghost Story. Purgatory (or whatever you want to call the in-between) is for people who can't pass on, because they are not at peace with their fate.