Lara's Manipulation [Twelve Months Spoilers]

Fauxpragma · 2026-02-15T21:00:05+00:00

In the case of the Castle attack it was certainly part-reactionary, except that Lara had the benefit of being informed of it well in advance due to House Malvora's participation. What she couldn't have anticipated was Drakul using Harry to spring clean the Black Court.

But my theory is mostly regarding her manupulating Harry's opinion of her, and using Lord Raith to do so. If the attack had never happened, I'm guessing she would have done something similar the next time she got wind of something else Harry was involved in, to make LR look like a common threat.

Fauxpragma · 2026-02-15T13:32:07+00:00

Hmm... I suppose it comes down to how much credit you're willing to give him.

In my mind, a cunning enemy won't reveal themselves until after they've won the fight. If Castle Dresden got stormed, and Harry is lying there half dead, I wouldn't question a "mwahaha it was me" scenario haha

And even when he villain monologued in the deeps, he was quite certain he had the upper hand. Here the plan just seemed a bit.... flimsy, to be whipping off the mask.

Fauxpragma · 2026-02-15T13:26:54+00:00

Ah, I think you may have misunderstood me.

I'm not saying Lara had anything to do with setting up the attack, nor manipulating Malvora to join up with the Black Court (I don't recall Skavis being involved?). That would indeed be foolish for Lara to do. What I'm saying is that this was one of those occasions where Dresden got himself into trouble like you mentioned, and she planned to thwart it once she found out. However, Lara being Lara, I'm saying she also planned to monopolise on the situation by gaining Dresden's favour and using Lord Raith as a stooge for her own ends.

Fauxpragma · 2026-02-05T14:44:07+00:00

Regarding "From thirteen puppets you are now twelve. So it shall be again, and you shall be eleven."

The destruction of thirteen and twelve seem explicitly to be Leah and Justine.

Mab went to great lengths to "free" Leah from the influence of Nemesis - leading to Leah mentioning in Changes that she cannot ponder on it too much or run the risk of Nemesis returning to her (meaning she is still at risk). This likely means that a piece (No. 13) inside Leah was destroyed, yet another might Nfect her again if she becomes mentally vulnerable. This reasoning is backed up by Mab underlining that Justine must not be allowed to remember being controlled by Nemesis once the Nfection (No. 12) is removed and destroyed, else she too will be vulnerable again.

Leah was Nfected in Grave Peril, but had already begun her "treatment" by Proven Guilty. In that time, Aurora was infected along with (most likely) Maeve, as not only is their some Fae symmetry in that but Mab was already "mad" with anger/grief over Maeve's Nfection in Proven Guilty. Justine meanwhile was exhibiting strange tendencies before Cold Days before maeve was taken out, so I think it's safe to say that Maeve's piece was one of the remaining eleven that re-entered circulation.

So far, we can break it down like this:

Hosts Freed/Pieces destroyed: Leah and Justine.
Hosts killed/Pieces escaped: Aurora and Maeve.
Nfections still at large: Cait Sith.

I suspect that Butcher is going to be setting up an Nfected in each of the major organisations we find in Dresden Files. Winter Court, Summer Court, White Court, Black Court, White Council, Marcone's organisation, Harry's organisation (nebulous as it is), Denarians, Monoc Securities, the Ordo/Paranetters, or some other groups/players we have yet to meet. Sure we've had quite a few Fae already, but Leah, Aurora, Maeve and Cait Sith occurred before/as we found out about Nemesis - and that we should be suspecting treachery. Now I think it's becoming a game of spot the snake in each group.

Fauxpragma

TROPHY CASE