Harry Dresden Microfiction - Harry and Ebenezar
After Battle Ground, this is a conversation I believe Harry and Eb need to have. And the sooner the better.
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“Grandfather - and I use that term with the utmost respect - you keep telling me to open my eyes. That I can’t see what’s going on. But have you been paying the least bit of attention to what’s been going on with me?”
“Now listen to me boy...”
“No YOU listen. Nicodemus called in a favor from Mab, and she gave him - me. How did that work out for him? As a result of that, I had the weapon I needed to take down a Titan.”
“Now Lara has called in a favor from Mab, and she has given her - me. I have no idea how this is going to turn out for the White Court, but whatever happens, somehow I don’t think it’s going to go quite the way Lara wants.”
“Boy, let me tell you...”
“Shut up! I am not done yet.”
He opened his mouth, closed it, and glowered at me, gesturing me to continue.
“While we’re on the subject of the White Court, you keep referring to Thomas - my brother, and your grandson - as one of “those things.” Well that “thing” has had my back more times than I can count. And not once - not ONCE - did he ever lose control and turn on me. You cannot say the same.”
From the look on his face, I knew Karrin had nailed it: no one can hurt you like family.
“One last thing. Molly - my former apprentice, and the daughter of the best friend I have in the world - was under a death sentence by the White Council. I was mostly dead, and only the fact that Warden Ramirez already had so much on his plate allowed him to keep her off his radar. But whatever other consequences may have befallen Molly, Mab not only put her beyond the reach of the White Council, but she has gone from being my apprentice to being my boss. And she is still my friend. Mab might let me face you alone. Molly won’t.”
“So once again I find myself under a suspended death sentence. That damned one-note tune just never gets old with you people, does it? So exactly what do you think is going to happen if they send you after me? Do you really think you can try to take me out without taking on the Winter Lady and all the forces of Winter at her disposal? Especially since the most powerful weapon you have - the Blackstaff - is actually a tool of Winter, and destroys you piecemeal every time you use it?”
His eyes went wide and he actually took a step back, like I’d slapped him.
“How did you...”
“Oh please. Finding stuff out is what I do - did - for a living. Mother Winter told me she had ‘lost’ her walking stick. Really? She’s not exactly the sort of person to lose or misplace anything. But she might allow it to be taken if it suits her purposes. Or...” a thought hit me... “she might even strike a bargain with the wizard who wanted it. Am I the only one here who belongs to Winter?”
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“Grandfather - and I use that term with the utmost respect - you keep telling me to open my eyes. That I can’t see what’s going on. But have you been paying the least bit of attention to what’s been going on with me?”
“Now listen to me boy...”
“No YOU listen. Nicodemus called in a favor from Mab, and she gave him - me. How did that work out for him? As a result of that, I had the weapon I needed to take down a Titan.”
“Now Lara has called in a favor from Mab, and she has given her - me. I have no idea how this is going to turn out for the White Court, but whatever happens, somehow I don’t think it’s going to go quite the way Lara wants.”
“Boy, let me tell you...”
“Shut up! I am not done yet.”
He opened his mouth, closed it, and glowered at me, gesturing me to continue.
“While we’re on the subject of the White Court, you keep referring to Thomas - my brother, and your grandson - as one of “those things.” Well that “thing” has had my back more times than I can count. And not once - not ONCE - did he ever lose control and turn on me. You cannot say the same.”
From the look on his face, I knew Karrin had nailed it: no one can hurt you like family.
“One last thing. Molly - my former apprentice, and the daughter of the best friend I have in the world - was under a death sentence by the White Council. I was mostly dead, and only the fact that Warden Ramirez already had so much on his plate allowed him to keep her off his radar. But whatever other consequences may have befallen Molly, Mab not only put her beyond the reach of the White Council, but she has gone from being my apprentice to being my boss. And she is still my friend. Mab might let me face you alone. Molly won’t.”
“So once again I find myself under a suspended death sentence. That damned one-note tune just never gets old with you people, does it? So exactly what do you think is going to happen if they send you after me? Do you really think you can try to take me out without taking on the Winter Lady and all the forces of Winter at her disposal? Especially since the most powerful weapon you have - the Blackstaff - is actually a tool of Winter, and destroys you piecemeal every time you use it?”
His eyes went wide and he actually took a step back, like I’d slapped him.
“How did you...”
“Oh please. Finding stuff out is what I do - did - for a living. Mother Winter told me she had ‘lost’ her walking stick. Really? She’s not exactly the sort of person to lose or misplace anything. But she might allow it to be taken if it suits her purposes. Or...” a thought hit me... “she might even strike a bargain with the wizard who wanted it. Am I the only one here who belongs to Winter?”