And she just pointed out, are we sure that Eb is Eb?  She mentioned that maybe someone is actually impersonating him?  She said Thomas might have been saying "Justin" not Justine and that possibly Justin is impersonating them.  Eb keeps mentioning someone coming up behind Harry, that the scales must be balanced. 

And if he gave it to Marcone, he'd never get it back.

I don't see any need for her to do it.   I'm sure someone that /looks/ like her does attend and keep up with whatever is needed, but I doubt it's Mab.   That's what minions are for and probably the only time one uses a glamour to look like Mab.

So far as I know, it's never been mentioned in the books.   Ever.  Not by Eb, Not by Thomas and not by Harry.  I don't even remember any speculation on it.   And yet reading through the Morgan Microfiction thread, it struck me how many people were waiting for Harry's birth.  How everyone knew he was something "Starborn or Destroyer" etc.  And while it's suspected that Elaine might be one, that hasn't been confirmed.   So a big missing piece of the puzzle is who is Harry's Grandmother?

WAG's.

Mab - we know she had children, at least 2.   And we know Eb warned Harry about Mab, though we don't know what dealings Eb had with her but we KNOW Eb has made 'questionable' decisions in the past.  We know that Winter's long had interest in Harry through Mab and Lea's words.  I don't think this is likely but given how Mab treated her other children, it's not inconceivable.  Just a really out there WAG.

Lea - Yes, she is Harry's Fairy Godmother....but at times she seems to have an interest beyond that.   If she was Margaret's mother, it makes sense to why she was chosen to be Harry's Godmother as well, to actually bind her to him.   Lea isn't as likely to have much interest otherwise I would think, given Fae relations with mortal offspring.  And we know Eb and Lea know each other well enough to plot to get the Grey Council to Mexico on Harry's behalf.   There's lots of untold story about Eb's dealings with the Fae.  He knows many of them, which doesn't seem to be /that/ common among wizards.

Loki - Given that Loki is supposedly the mother of Odin's horse Sleipnir and the father of Fenrir the wolf among others.  It's entirely possible given Odin is running around that Loki might be as well.  (Naughty Naughty Eb.)


But the question of who Harry's Grandmother is an important one I think, one that will have an influence over what happens.  Somehow Jim has managed to avoid much questioning on this point however.

We are veering way off topic here.  Does Mother Winter owe Harry a gift?   And if Eb falls during Peace Talks, before passing the staff, does it return to Mother Winter?   That's how I can see Harry getting it.  But I really think based on the laws of three and the fact he has duties and obligations of varying kinds to each Queen, if two of them owe him a gift for Christmas, then Mother Winter must as well.  From the description in Changes, Harry could very well of asked Mab "Is it going to try to eat me?" because the Black staff already tried to?

And yes, it'd be great if someone manages to ask Herr Butcher about this at some point, because I'd really like to know.

So I reread Christmas Eve, about Mab and Molly giving Harry a gift out of Obligation to a vassal and I suddenly wondered, "If Mab and Molly are obligated to give Harry a gift, isn't Mother Winter also?   It doesn't make alot of sense that 2 out of 3 queens of winter are required to give him a gift, especially with the Faerie fascination with 3's.   It would seem reasonable that Mother Winter must also do so. 

Of course, one wonders if she did in a way.   I wonder, does Harry pick up the Blackstaff in Peace Talks?

I searched the forums but didn't see anything on this come up.   

I didn't really notice anyone digging into what struck me as the immediate answer to why.  Warriorborn are effectively genetically engineered super soldiers.  Yes they are useful and make excellent guards but the fact they are only partly human.  The Saurons from Pournelle's CoDominium series is a good example of why normals might fear them.