Malcolm Dresden

[EBRIEN]

Rereading Skin Game.

I had a thought. (Stop the presses!  ) In SG, when asked about his whereabouts by Murphy, Harry (getting his arm fixed) refers to Michael as a Good Man. We've heard Ebenezer refer to Malcolm in the same way. So, I wonder if Malcolm may've been a Knight of the Cross--even if only a short time--like Murphy and her use of the sword--Not the right full-time job for her, but right for a particular one. So...wouldn't that be something?

That's all I have.

Off to reread a little more.

Cheers and best to all!

B

[Rob]

Be it far from me to rain on speculation, but there are likely millions of times more good men than Knights of the Cross, and some of those good men are deeply involved in Heaven's work in ways KotC cannot do. See, e.g, the end of one of the short stories ("Warrior"?) where Uriel confirms to Harry that Michael didn't get a retirement: he got a promotion.

In "Skin Game", Michael didn't come out of retirement. When faced with a labor shortage, Upper Management told a member of lower management "retake your old position on the shop floor for a while".

[g33k]

... So, I wonder if Malcolm may've been a Knight of the Cross--even if only a short time--like Murphy and her use of the sword--Not the right full-time job for her, but right for a particular one. So...wouldn't that be something? ...

If we have ever had a hint that Malcolm had any martial prowess, I'd think it possible.

So far as I know, neither the canon stories nor any WoJ/AMA/etc has ever hinted at such for Malcolm.

So it's 100% speculation, for now.

[EBRIEN]

Just seems to me, Dresden naming someone a good man means more than just the average (or above average) good person. He refers to both Michael and Shiro this way. Eb refers to Malcolm this way. I'd be curious if there were more to it than just the basics. Heck, Michael rescues Charity from a dragon. Maybe Malcolm rescued Margaret from Papa Raith. (Just behind the scenes---maybe Eb--who has tremendous distrust for the White Court--knows something more...and this is why he refers to him this way).

[Mira]

Just seems to me, Dresden naming someone a good man means more than just the average (or above average) good person. He refers to both Michael and Shiro this way. Eb refers to Malcolm this way. I'd be curious if there were more to it than just the basics. Heck, Michael rescues Charity from a dragon. Maybe Malcolm rescued Margaret from Papa Raith. (Just behind the scenes---maybe Eb--who has tremendous distrust for the White Court--knows something more...and this is why he refers to him this way).

You could say that Malcolm did rescue Margaret from Lord Raith.. Or rather he gave Margaret a reason to leave Lord Raith, ultimately Malcolm couldn't save her from Lord Raith.  Not everyone is cut out to be a Holy Knight, or at least a Sword carrying one.  However that doesn't mean that Malcolm's soul didn't rank right up there with Michael or Shiro, the main job of the Knights is to put holders of Coins on the path to redemption of their souls.  As far as we know, Margaret was never a holder of a Coin, but according to Chauncy she was on the road to hell... However meeting and falling in love with Malcolm redeemed her.

[g33k]

...  As far as we know, Margaret was never a holder of a Coin, but according to Chauncy she was on the road to hell... However meeting and falling in love with Malcolm redeemed her.

This, I think.

He doesn't need a Holy Sword or anything else.
He just needs to be really profoundly good.

Margaret McCoy had a good upbringing, we think, with Ebenezer.
But she lost her way; she lost faith.  Maybe even (like Harry) she felt disenchanted with the role the Blackstaff had to fulfill, the things he had to do.

Malcolm -- that inescapable, unforgettable Soulgaze -- restored that faith.
There really is Good in this world.

[Mira]

Malcolm -- that inescapable, unforgettable Soulgaze -- restored that faith.
There really is Good in this world.

Yes.

[Dina]

Amen

[Talby16]

The timeline of the swords is murky, but I agree with the other posters here that you can be a Good Man without carrying the sword. I think Father Forthill is a Good Man, but has a different role/responsibility than Michael. Malcom was a Good Man and was instrumental in "rescuing" Maggie Sr and raising Harry in those initial formative years. He set Harry on the track to become who he is currently. He helped give Harry his moral compass. All without a sword.