Harry should have trusted Ramirez

[Mira]

Sure, there is definitely some of that going on. However, Jim did point out that Harry has a very limited idea of what the White Council knows or does, particularly when it comes to the Merlin and the other Senior Council members. So we've got a bit of a biased view as we've only seen things from Harry's narrow perspective. Perhaps Jim will give us some insight to how the operate and their knowledge from a better insiders view (e.g. a short story from the Merlin's perspective or something).

We do have the opinion of Rashid on the matter of what the Senior Council knows, if Harry is retelling it correctly.  Now to be fair, Rashid was telling him what the Council knows of their roles, but from that one can extrapolate that the Council doesn't know all that much as to how the Winter Court functions.

page 341 Cold Days, Outer Gates

"I know precisely how it feels to be where you are." He gestured back towards the battleground.  "Precisely."  He seemed to think about it for a moment, and then nodded.  "I will do what I can. If we both survive the next several hours, I will settle matters between you and the Council,which knows only as much about our roles as it needs to--and that isn't much."

So what goes on at the Outer Gates and within the Winter Court on a "need to know basis" only? Is that what Rashid was saying?  Only the very top levels of the Senior Council need to know? Or is Rashid saying that the Council is for the most part closing their eyes and putting their fingers in their ears while singing "la,la,la..."?  I  think the latter, do they think it will go away if they turn a blind eye to the problem? Or perhaps thirdly Rashid deliberately keeps secrets from the Council because he suspects traitors with in the ranks?  Or is he acting on Mab's orders to keep the Council in the dark? So while Harry may have a limited idea of what the Council knows, I'd say that Rashid's idea of what the Council knows, and don't know, is far from limited.   

[Yuillegan]

I'm not sure he's going to find out at all. But he wanted her to stop pining after him, so her finding an alternative attachment with an age-appropriate good (at the time, anyway) person seems like about the best case scenario. I'd think he'd be more sorry for her tragic predicament.

Perhaps he won't but why waste a good bit of drama? He did want that...but would it really surprise us if Harry felt jealousy? He's not known what he wanted before, and he can be a hypocritical as anyone. I agree, he probably will be sorry for her though.

White council in peace talks. Ebenezer and Harry explain to the rest of the group what einherjar are when they are already there. They are just not well prepared.

Ebenezer does not know what makes them tick. It is just they are monsters, they eat you, don’t trust them (kill them if you get the chance).

The group he is explaining to consisted of four Wardens younger than Ramirez, in particular Wild Bill. Harry and Ramirez already know about Einherjaren. If anything, the only one who seems unclear on them is Wild Bill. We could include Yoshimo, but we would be assuming. Chandler is quite well educated, and is around Harry's own age, and likely had a more normal (if not better) magical education (let alone mortal education). Ebenezar's information is sound. So I don't think that argument holds up.

Again, I am not sure what you mean here. I assume by them you mean the White Court, the Sidhe, the Svartalves? To which I would point out that Ebenezar knows quite a lot about them, perhaps more than Dresden (despite Harry's sometimes unique perspective). Unless there is something I am missing, I am not sure how it's clear that Ebenezar doesn't know about them. He might not empathise with them, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand what they are and how they work.

We do have the opinion of Rashid on the matter of what the Senior Council knows, if Harry is retelling it correctly.  Now to be fair, Rashid was telling him what the Council knows of their roles, but from that one can extrapolate that the Council doesn't know all that much as to how the Winter Court functions.

page 341 Cold Days, Outer Gates

So what goes on at the Outer Gates and within the Winter Court on a "need to know basis" only? Is that what Rashid was saying?  Only the very top levels of the Senior Council need to know? Or is Rashid saying that the Council is for the most part closing their eyes and putting their fingers in their ears while singing "la,la,la..."?  I  think the latter, do they think it will go away if they turn a blind eye to the problem? Or perhaps thirdly Rashid deliberately keeps secrets from the Council because he suspects traitors with in the ranks?  Or is he acting on Mab's orders to keep the Council in the dark? So while Harry may have a limited idea of what the Council knows, I'd say that Rashid's idea of what the Council knows, and don't know, is far from limited.   

Yes, but we don't have Rashid's perspective. It isn't like the scene is from his point of view. And with regards to that scene in particular, he is referring to what the Council as a whole (not the Senior Council) knows about the role of the Gatekeeper and the Warden of Demonreach, as you point out. The Council at large may not be aware of too much of the internal dynamics of the Winter Court. But there are specialists on the Council like Ancient Mai, and I wouldn't be so sure that the Senior Council wizards know less than Harry. They've been around the longest (with the exception of Cristos) and they have accumulated a hell of a lot of knowledge. Plus there are plenty of senior wizards around who may well know more than the "average" wizard.

I think you're closer with your first idea. It's a need-to-know thing. Think about the 7th Law of Magic. The one they take so seriously that they execute wizards for even researching the Outside. I'd say it's far more of an operational security thing than the Council deciding to be wilfully ignorant. They are far more concerned that angry wizards in trying to gain power might endanger reality. Seems a pretty good reason to not let the Council on the whole know too much about that part of Winter. But I don't believe the Senior Council are unaware of that stuff, to varying levels. Remember, Ebenezar knows about the role of the Warden, and in his diary implies the other Senior Council members do too (because they want to execute Harry) - this is in Turn Coat I believe.

[Mira]

I think you're closer with your first idea. It's a need-to-know thing. Think about the 7th Law of Magic. The one they take so seriously that they execute wizards for even researching the Outside. I'd say it's far more of an operational security thing than the Council deciding to be wilfully ignorant. They are far more concerned that angry wizards in trying to gain power might endanger reality. Seems a pretty good reason to not let the Council on the whole know too much about that part of Winter. But I don't believe the Senior Council are unaware of that stuff, to varying levels. Remember, Ebenezar knows about the role of the Warden, and in his diary implies the other Senior Council members do too (because they want to execute Harry) - this is in Turn Coat I believe.

The bit that is interesting in that journal, is it is implied that the title Warden of that island, [won't call it Demonreach because that is Harry's name for it] is a mantle.  That sets is apart from being a Warden of the White Council, not even if you are the Captain of the Wardens is a mantle.  "Mantle" in the Dresdenverse means acquiring a power of some kind, and it can do stuff to the one acquiring it as we see in Harry's struggle with the Winter Knight's Mantle.  They seem to know what resides on that island, how dangerous it is, apparently there have been other Wardens in the past. Yet they have chosen to leave that position unfilled..  Why?  Rashid seemed to think that Harry could handle the job, and Eb more or less concurred, but that was before Harry also acquired the mantle of Winter Knight.  Now you can make the argument that the Merlin, Gatekeeper, and Blackstaff are all mantles, but only Harry as far as we know wears two, and they don't even know that he is also Custodian of the Holy Swords.  Which could also be called a mantle of sorts, because of the authority to give them out isn't something one can just assume.

As we saw in Battleground, being Warden of the Island carries huge power.  Power I don't think Harry is fully aware of, even yet.  I think that is what the Council is afraid of, if indeed Kemmler was the last Warden of the Island.  Was he corrupted by it and tapped as Rashid warned Harry against the power of it's leyline? 

[vincentric]

The Warden is not a Mantle. It is a title that comes with taking up the power and responsibility of watching over the island. Demonreach also hinted in CD that the title predated the the Wardens of the White Council.("First there was one, now there are many.")That implies that the White Council Wardens were founded by one of the early Wardens of Demonreach.

[Arjan]

The group he is explaining to consisted of four Wardens younger than Ramirez, in particular Wild Bill. Harry and Ramirez already know about Einherjaren. If anything, the only one who seems unclear on them is Wild Bill. We could include Yoshimo, but we would be assuming. Chandler is quite well educated, and is around Harry's own age, and likely had a more normal (if not better) magical education (let alone mortal education). Ebenezar's information is sound. So I don't think that argument holds up.

They are not briefed. They are not prepared. If you go to such a meeting you need to know these essential things. Read the reports.

Again, I am not sure what you mean here. I assume by them you mean the White Court, the Sidhe, the Svartalves? To which I would point out that Ebenezar knows quite a lot about them, perhaps more than Dresden (despite Harry's sometimes unique perspective). Unless there is something I am missing, I am not sure how it's clear that Ebenezar doesn't know about them. He might not empathise with them, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand what they are and how they work.

He does not understand the web of duties and obligations Harry is working under so he asks impossible things and does not understand what Harry is doing. It is all over the book.

[Mira]

The Warden is not a Mantle. It is a title that comes with taking up the power and responsibility of watching over the island. Demonreach also hinted in CD that the title predated the the Wardens of the White Council.("First there was one, now there are many.")That implies that the White Council Wardens were founded by one of the early Wardens of Demonreach.

I'm not so sure about that.

Here is what Eb said in his journal; Turn Coat page 379

There are a couple of really interesting comments that I will highlight

. . .seems clear that he had no idea of the island's original purpose.
I sometimes can't help but think that there is such a thing as fate--or at least a
higher power of some sort attempting to arrange events in our favor despite everything
we, in our ignorance, do to thwart it.  The Merlin has demanded that we put the boy under surveillance at once.I think he is a damn fool.

Rashid says warning him about the island would be pointless.  He's a good judge of
people, but I'm not so sure he's right this time.  The boy's got a solid head on his shoulders, generally.  And if all the wizards I know, he is among the three or four I'd be willing to see take up that particular mantle.  I trust his judgement.

1] As we know or knew, Harry had no clue what he was getting himself into.
 2] When the Merlin finds out about what Harry did he wants him watched.  Watched for what?
being corrupted by the power he now has in his hands?  Like Kemmler?  How did that happen?
 3] Eb calls it a mantle, no mistake, a mantle..  No, it doesn't enter his body like the mantle of the Winter Knight perhaps, however Harry's power and reach has increased who knows how many times over.  He was able to put a Titian away, that speaks to great power at his finger tips, and that kind of power can corrupt.

[Yuillegan]

The bit that is interesting in that journal, is it is implied that the title Warden of that island, [won't call it Demonreach because that is Harry's name for it] is a mantle.  That sets is apart from being a Warden of the White Council, not even if you are the Captain of the Wardens is a mantle.  "Mantle" in the Dresdenverse means acquiring a power of some kind, and it can do stuff to the one acquiring it as we see in Harry's struggle with the Winter Knight's Mantle.  They seem to know what resides on that island, how dangerous it is, apparently there have been other Wardens in the past. Yet they have chosen to leave that position unfilled..  Why?  Rashid seemed to think that Harry could handle the job, and Eb more or less concurred, but that was before Harry also acquired the mantle of Winter Knight.  Now you can make the argument that the Merlin, Gatekeeper, and Blackstaff are all mantles, but only Harry as far as we know wears two, and they don't even know that he is also Custodian of the Holy Swords.  Which could also be called a mantle of sorts, because of the authority to give them out isn't something one can just assume.

As we saw in Battleground, being Warden of the Island carries huge power.  Power I don't think Harry is fully aware of, even yet.  I think that is what the Council is afraid of, if indeed Kemmler was the last Warden of the Island.  Was he corrupted by it and tapped as Rashid warned Harry against the power of it's leyline?

Not just implied, but outright stated it is a mantle. Whether it is a mantle like the Winter Knight that comes with powers etc or whether it's more like the mantle of being given an office of responsibility is the real question, as you imply. Mantle has two meanings in the Dresden Files, our meaning (i.e. an office or rank like being President) or a magical one (a powerful magical boost alongside the office of responsibility). My guess is that it's somewhere in-between. He definitely brings some of that power with him (his magic now is green and gold). But it doesn't seem anywhere near the same as his Winter Knight mantle. Demonreach is very limited beyond the lake, perhaps literally.

Jim answered why they left it unfilled btw. He said that anyone who claimed it would be all the reason the Senior Council would need to execute (particularly if it was one of them, it would be all the reason they need to start pointing fingers and be like "they're the bad guy, get them"). In their minds, no one would be insane or stupid enough now. Well, almost no one...

Harry has definitely used *some* of the Island's power. See the fight scene in Battle Ground between him, Lara and Freydis. But, it isn't clear if he is just using latent energy that Merlin used OR the leyline. My guess is the former but it's not totally clear.

1] As we know or knew, Harry had no clue what he was getting himself into.
 2] When the Merlin finds out about what Harry did he wants him watched.  Watched for what?
being corrupted by the power he now has in his hands?  Like Kemmler?  How did that happen?
 3] Eb calls it a mantle, no mistake, a mantle..  No, it doesn't enter his body like the mantle of the Winter Knight perhaps, however Harry's power and reach has increased who knows how many times over.  He was able to put a Titian away, that speaks to great power at his finger tips, and that kind of power can corrupt.

I think the Merlin was naturally cautious. As I said above, the Senior Council didn't want ANYONE to have the mantle of Warden, to be the Warden of Demonreach. Harry gives as much of an explanation as any in Cold Days (I think). Yeah, I think the Merlin was only acting normally from his perspective. I think he is less worried about the ley line corrupting Harry as much as Harry releasing monsters from Demonreach, or using them as his personal weapons. Harry's own island of demonic and insane pokemon.

As I said earlier, the mantle definition is tricky. Somewhere in the middle. I mean, why should all mantles work the same eh?

The Warden is not a Mantle. It is a title that comes with taking up the power and responsibility of watching over the island. Demonreach also hinted in CD that the title predated the the Wardens of the White Council.("First there was one, now there are many.")That implies that the White Council Wardens were founded by one of the early Wardens of Demonreach.

Yes and no. It's a mantle in the normal sense. It's less clear if it is a mantle in the magical sense. I mean, it sure predates the White Council because the guy who made the White Council was the first one, built the prison and got the t-shirt. He also built it in multiple times, so conceivably the prison existed hundreds if not thousands of years before Merlin first made the Council. It's hard with time-travellers because who knows when he is originally from.

They are not briefed. They are not prepared. If you go to such a meeting you need to know these essential things. Read the reports.

He does not understand the web of duties and obligations Harry is working under so he asks impossible things and does not understand what Harry is doing. It is all over the book.

By "they" I assume you mean Wild Bill (who asked the question), and possibly Yoshimo and Chandler. Ramirez clearly knows as he acknowledges them when Harry reminds him Marcone has some. I mean, you're assuming there were reports to read. Anyway, Chandler is around Dresden's age too, might even be older. It's hard to say. It seems to me that Harry and Ebenezar were explaining Einherjar as a quick reminder to Wild Bill and included everyone as a matter of politeness and simplicity. If it's just Wild Bill who doesn't understand, it's more complicated to have to pull him aside and explain (or have a scene where every other character shows they know). I mean, the explanation is just as much for the reader as anything else. Jim often re-explains things even when he doesn't have to (and it occasionally it isn't needed or doesn't really make sense). It's part of his writing style. Have a character ask a question so that another character can provide some exposition to the audience. That's the Doylist explanation.

Ah, I see what you're getting at about Ebenezar. Well, it is possible he doesn't understand the duties and obligations. He would only know that Harry has some, not necessarily the specifics (which isn't unreasonable considering no one has told Ebenezar about what Harry is meant to do for Mab and for Lara, and he doesn't yet know of the Thomas connection). But I think it's still quite the step to say he doesn't understand that Harry HAS obligations and duties that might conflict with his White Council ones. They even discuss it as much in Changes, right at the end. Eb acknowledges that he has made deals before, too. And he gives Harry the very good advice (that Harry gets time and time again) that no can actually change Harry but himself, despite that all the old monsters will try and convince him otherwise. The monsters can make Harry do things, but not CHOOSE to do them. It's an important distinction. But I don't believe that Ebenezar just thinks of supernatural nations as pure monsters. He knows about their politics, their way of doing things, some of their history and some of their secrets. Even though he hates the White Court, he seems to know their nature and their game. He might not know all their internal politics and operations, but he would know enough to do business with them (and to fight them of course). He also doesn't seem to hate the Svartalves, just knows to show strength sometimes is better than looking weak (at least, in his point of view). I don't think he particularly hates the Sidhe Courts either. Considering where he got his staff, I would say he knows a few things about Winter at the least.

[Mira]

I think the Merlin was naturally cautious. As I said above, the Senior Council didn't want ANYONE to have the mantle of Warden, to be the Warden of Demonreach. Harry gives as much of an explanation as any in Cold Days (I think). Yeah, I think the Merlin was only acting normally from his perspective. I think he is less worried about the ley line corrupting Harry as much as Harry releasing monsters from Demonreach, or using them as his personal weapons. Harry's own island of demonic and insane pokemon.

I still think it goes deeper that the Merlin merely acting normally.  The has to be a reason why the Island has been without a Warden for so long.  I actually think Eb is relieved that the Island has a Warden once more.

. . .seems clear that he had no idea of the island's original purpose.
I sometimes can't help but think that there is such a thing as fate--or at least a
higher power of some sort attempting to arrange events in our favor despite everything
we, in our ignorance, do to thwart it.  The Merlin has demanded that we put the boy under surveillance at once.I think he is a damn fool.

Basically he is saying, "thank God someone is in charge of the Island again." Even if it is Harry who stumbled into the job.  Again the question is why is the Senior Council or many on the Senior Council so opposed to the Island having a Warden? Eb seems to think it is out of ignorance, ignorance of what?  What happened? Does it all go back to Kemmler? Does the Merlin so fear that the next Warden will turn out the same way that he prefers a less secure Island to one with it's defenses fully functional? 

[Yuillegan]

I still think it goes deeper that the Merlin merely acting normally.  The has to be a reason why the Island has been without a Warden for so long.  I actually think Eb is relieved that the Island has a Warden once more.

Basically he is saying, "thank God someone is in charge of the Island again." Even if it is Harry who stumbled into the job.  Again the question is why is the Senior Council or many on the Senior Council so opposed to the Island having a Warden? Eb seems to think it is out of ignorance, ignorance of what?  What happened? Does it all go back to Kemmler? Does the Merlin so fear that the next Warden will turn out the same way that he prefers a less secure Island to one with it's defenses fully functional?

There IS a reason - since the last Warden, anyone who tries to take it would be executed. Threat of execution is a strong deterrent. As for if it were a Senior Council wizard (or another wizard of significant age, power, and political sway with enough allies) it would probably amount to civil war. That's why there has been no Warden for some time. The WOJ on this is in a Q&A that shouldn't be too hard to find, I think it was in the 20 years of Dresden interview with Priscilla (it's on YouTube).

I agree, Eb does seem somewhat thankful. Considering he is the most combat capable wizard on the planet, I am not so sure that's a vote in Harry's favor. But he is fairly wise as well.

But the considering the power that the Island has, and could grant a wizard...not to mention an army of dark monsters and gods that said wizard could release, if not control. Why on Earth would they want anyone to have that? Kemmler is a good indication, but there have been at least two Wardens between him and Harry. I think the Merlin is aware the Island is secure enough from most attempts.

And as Harry is starting to realise, Demonreach hides things. It might not be such a good thing to be the Warden in the end. Any wizard who knows enough about the Island might think twice anyway regardless of the White Council issues, just because of the danger the Island itself poses to them personally. Not to mention all the evil characters who might want the Warden to release their friends. Harry has a giant target on him that says "Bribe me, torture me, kill me...or my loved ones". Even Rashid hints he has gained a lot more problems by being Warden.

[Mira]

But the considering the power that the Island has, and could grant a wizard...not to mention an army of dark monsters and gods that said wizard could release, if not control. Why on Earth would they want anyone to have that? Kemmler is a good indication, but there have been at least two Wardens between him and Harry. I think the Merlin is aware the Island is secure enough from most attempts.

 Yet the Merlin is willing to allow the Blackstaff to remain in the hands of one wizard.  Now I realize that perhaps Eb couldn't do as much damage as all the monsters on the Island being turned loose, but still with that staff he could do a lot of damage.  The point is, how does the Merlin know the island is secure enough without a Warden?  Just because no one has been successful in getting in during the last hundred years doesn't mean that it is. It only speaks of a lack of imagination..

[Yuillegan]

Yet the Merlin is willing to allow the Blackstaff to remain in the hands of one wizard.  Now I realize that perhaps Eb couldn't do as much damage as all the monsters on the Island being turned loose, but still with that staff he could do a lot of damage.  The point is, how does the Merlin know the island is secure enough without a Warden?  Just because no one has been successful in getting in during the last hundred years doesn't mean that it is. It only speaks of a lack of imagination..

I don't think the Merlin has a lot of choice about the Blackstaff. I think if he could give it to another he would have by now. That could be because Ebenezar is too strong or it would be too overt or whatever, but I suspect it might be to do with the magic of the Blackstaff itself. I suspect it can only be given, or picked up, not stolen. Which means, like it or not, the Merlin must accept it.

I mean, who says he the Merlin hasn't spent a lot of time making sure most people don't get near it? We don't know what measures he has undertaken. Harry took the Island in a period when the White Council was particularly distracted and very low on resources. Almost the perfect time to grab the Island. No Wardens available to defend it or monitor it, or any other wizards for that matter. The White Council was reeling from the savage assault by the Red Court.

I don't think it's so much a matter of the Merlin thinking it's secure without a Warden, although as I say the Island has plenty of defences, and very few wizards who would be brave/stupid/insane enough to actually go and find the Island and try and claim it, would be around. Cowl could have claimed it, or Justin. And perhaps they did at different times (as we know there were at least two people between Kemmler and Harry). But why not Corpsetaker or Grevane? Both are mad and powerful enough? My guess is the Island wouldn't like them much, but also the White Council might have monitoring (most years) for just such a thing.

And as I said earlier, anyone who tries to claim it is considered Voldemort, according to Jim. That's just the facts we have to work with. It's just a matter of human nature then. If you go and do x, we will kill you. So all those wizards on the White Council who might have thought about it would know better than to try, as everyone would go for them.

You want a good example, just look at what Harry has done to be kicked off the White Council. If he were Kemmler, he could have unleashed an army of dark monsters. He could have sent dark gods to wipe out his foes etc. Harry has been accused of being basically the new Dark Lord and yet really hasn't made a bid for control. That being said, the White Council is terrified at how much personal power he has and how much protection, and how much he has achieved. No wonder they fear him.

[Mira]

I don't think the Merlin has a lot of choice about the Blackstaff. I think if he could give it to another he would have by now. That could be because Ebenezar is too strong or it would be too overt or whatever, but I suspect it might be to do with the magic of the Blackstaff itself. I suspect it can only be given, or picked up, not stolen. Which means, like it or not, the Merlin must accept it.

Possible, but I don't think it is that simple, if it were, you'd think that Mother Winter would have retrieved her walking stick a long time ago.

And as I said earlier, anyone who tries to claim it is considered Voldemort, according to Jim. That's just the facts we have to work with. It's just a matter of human nature then. If you go and do x, we will kill you. So all those wizards on the White Council who might have thought about it would know better than to try, as everyone would go for them.

I never got past "Harry Potter and the Blood Prince," for a number of reasons.. Anywho, Voldemort is also "He, who must not be named"  So Jim may have meant merely that the Council do not want the name of the Warden to get out.  If everyone knew who the Warden was, he/she'd be a target for someone who wanted to gain access.  That is my theory, I don't know WOJ as to why he said that. 
But the Council has never openly said, "if you go to the Island to become Warden we will kill you." On the contrary it was merely removed from the map, and it is the Island, "that must not be named" rather than it's Warden.

You want a good example, just look at what Harry has done to be kicked off the White Council. If he were Kemmler, he could have unleashed an army of dark monsters. He could have sent dark gods to wipe out his foes etc. Harry has been accused of being basically the new Dark Lord and yet really hasn't made a bid for control. That being said, the White Council is terrified at how much personal power he has and how much protection, and how much he has achieved. No wonder they fear him.

But is he really considered the new Dark Lord though?  Or merely someone who in a very short time has acquired a lot of power that is mostly out of their jurisdiction, i.e. Winter Knight and Warden of the Island, oh yeah, starborn, and they cannot control him...  The last is what scares them, they fear what they cannot control, if they cannot control him/her, ergo he or she will go warlock on
steroids... The starborn bit is interesting though, my theory is originally the Senior Council wanted a starborn created, but one of their own that they could control..  With Harry they were hoisted by their own petard.

[Yuillegan]

Possible, but I don't think it is that simple, if it were, you'd think that Mother Winter would have retrieved her walking stick a long time ago.

I never got past "Harry Potter and the Blood Prince," for a number of reasons.. Anywho, Voldemort is also "He, who must not be named"  So Jim may have meant merely that the Council do not want the name of the Warden to get out.  If everyone knew who the Warden was, he/she'd be a target for someone who wanted to gain access.  That is my theory, I don't know WOJ as to why he said that. 
But the Council has never openly said, "if you go to the Island to become Warden we will kill you." On the contrary it was merely removed from the map, and it is the Island, "that must not be named" rather than it's Warden.

But is he really considered the new Dark Lord though?  Or merely someone who in a very short time has acquired a lot of power that is mostly out of their jurisdiction, i.e. Winter Knight and Warden of the Island, oh yeah, starborn, and they cannot control him...  The last is what scares them, they fear what they cannot control, if they cannot control him/her, ergo he or she will go warlock on
steroids... The starborn bit is interesting though, my theory is originally the Senior Council wanted a starborn created, but one of their own that they could control..  With Harry they were hoisted by their own petard.

I am not sure I follow about Mother Winter. If the staff can only be given, not taken for example - it's harder for her to get it back as she has to get someone to willingly hand it over. We don't really know how it works. But I suspect the other reason she doesn't get it is because no one would be stupid enough to walk up to her with it, and because she doesn't seem to leave her cottage now (or only very rarely at any rate) I suspect it's reasonably easy to avoid that sort of confrontation.

Jim might have meant they were guarding the name, but I will give you the quote and you'll see what he was getting at. I was wrong about what video, it's from the Barbarra Books Q&A https://www.crowdcast.io/e/jim-butche and go to 24:37 and he starts to discuss who the previous Wardens were and how long, and then at 26:35 or so he outlines why no one has taken the position for a while. He didn't call them the next Voldemort in this interview, that was just my shorthand.

The point is though, that the Council didn't feel they needed to say they would kill whoever did it because a) they didn't think anyone would be crazy/suicidal enough to do it and b) because they thought anyone who would do it would be someone very, very bad. And then Harry stumbled in and made them all wonder again for the umpteenth time if he really is evil or if he's just an idiot.

I suspect Demonreach has another name (if not several). That's not uncommon, particularly for places and especially in this series. The Native American people would call it something different to Harry, the Council likely know an older name (perhaps Merlin's name for it) but there are many languages as well (not just human either).

I really don't know if Harry is considered the new Dark Lord, we will have to read the next book to really know that. But I suspect it was a part of the argument to kick him off the Council. As far as the Council are concerned, anyone who gathers a lot of power in a short amount of time out of their jurisdiction IS a threat, and therefore it's semantics whether they are really evil or not (to the Council anyway). They don't like opposition. Cowl hints at this being part of the reason the Black Council exists. The White Council, like any tyrant, is often largely responsible for creating their own worst enemy and arming them with the exact weapons required to bring them down. Tyrants can't help it really.

Whether they are actually concerned (although some surely are) that he will go Warlock, or that he is Black Council doesn't matter too much (with the exception that it might convince the more lenient allies of Harry like LtW and Ebenezar to side against him). They see him as a large, uncontrollable opposition with too much power and influence.

This gets to the heart of the issue with the White Council, and any governing body. The right of the individual versus the right of the majority. The White Council's authority (like any powerful governing body) derives from it's ability to enforce it's will onto others and still maintain control over their domain. They then must claim legitimacy either through divine right, or something similar, but often it's really just might. Why should the Council be allowed to kill Harry, or to control Wizards, or stop them doing time magic or whatever? Ultimately, the Council is a collection of individuals backed by a large(ish) and powerful group of people that have decided that it's better to have a governing body than let chaos ensue with no one in charge. Doesn't mean they are legitimate. But if most people have decided something, normally that's the way it goes. A single person's right don't necessarily count for more than everyone else's. But not necessarily less either. It's a huge, complex philosophical issue humans have been trying to solve since day one. We are more sophisticated in some ways today but it always essentially boils down to who has the power. And it likely always will, unless humanity develops into a far more sophisticated society beyond our differences stops trying to kill one another etc. I don't think we will get that far, but look how far we've come, so who knows?

I think you're probably right about the star born thing. Harry didn't work out the way they hoped...but then again he isn't a complete failure either. The Merlin is famously cunning, and Jim has said he often is far less direct than Harry suspects. A career manipulator and politician. Harry might be serving the Merlin's aims despite not actually intending to. The implication is that he meant Harry to destroy the Red Court, despite appearing to try and hamper Harry.

It just occurred to me that both Maggie and Ebenezar before her could both have been Warden's at one time or another. Other candidates are Simon and Justin, and potentially Rashid and someone (again, I would think Maggie). Maggie and Justin just seem like the most likely to have preceded Harry given what they both were like and got up to.

[Mira]

Sadly for some reason the link you gave me wouldn't work.  However a couple of things remain, for some reason the Council is so afraid of a Warden being in charge of the Island that they are willing to let the Island be vulnerable to attack, which it was in Cold Days.  Then in Skin Game Harry says because there is now a Warden in charge, all defenses are engaged and the Outsiders couldn't pull that again. 

It was my understanding that it was Harry that came up with the name "Demonreach" for the Island.  If the Council is guarding the name, one has to wonder what that name is? However we also know that names have power in the Dresdenverse.

[Yuillegan]

Sadly for some reason the link you gave me wouldn't work.  However a couple of things remain, for some reason the Council is so afraid of a Warden being in charge of the Island that they are willing to let the Island be vulnerable to attack, which it was in Cold Days.  Then in Skin Game Harry says because there is now a Warden in charge, all defenses are engaged and the Outsiders couldn't pull that again. 

It was my understanding that it was Harry that came up with the name "Demonreach" for the Island.  If the Council is guarding the name, one has to wonder what that name is? However we also know that names have power in the Dresdenverse.

Damn, yeah it's a bit of an annoying link. Even when it works you have to enter your email to watch it etc. I could type out the section if you like?

Basically he says:
"By the time Harry had got there no one had been there [Demonreach] in a good long while because basically y'know among the people who are in the know on the Council it would be suicide to go try and do that"
"If one of the Senior Council guys got it all the other Senior Council people would be like 'yep, he's the bad guy - definitely corrupted and serving evil' and Dresden walked into it and it was just such a stupid move they all kinda looked at him at went '...I think he was being dumb' 'do you think he was being dumb?' 'Yeah! It looks dumb - it looks like he was just being stupid...but my god we do need the firepower' "

I hope that sort of clears things up. I think they didn't think they either didn't think the Island was in such danger as to require the Warden OR they assumed it was worse to actually allow any wizard to come into such power/too afraid if they took it themselves they would be killed by the others.

Harry did come up with the name but one wonders if that's a name that exists in Demonreach's mind itself or just Harry being Harry. Harry seems to get some sort of magical inspiration in the moment so who knows?

Curiously, Harry names it in Turn Coat LONG before he knew the true purpose of the Island. Yet, as the Gatekeeper says the name is quite apt. One feels that was a bit of the Island's Intellectus merging with Harry. It was a stroke of insight that helped Harry with the name. Another thing, is naming the Island a part of claiming it? In which case each Warden either names it the same thing or they each gave it a name themselves, and so the Island has dozens of names potentially.