Battle Ground (The Dresden Files, #17)

by Jim Butcher

“Stars and stones, River,” I said. “I’m glad you’re on my side.” “Means you got good taste,” the Sasquatch said. “Besides. You stood with me when I needed it.” “Yeah,” I said. “Those situations weren’t ever exactly of this magnitude.” “Be kind of a lousy friend, I counted the beans between us that close,” the Sasquatch said.

Don’t get me wrong: Mab was perfectly capable of kicking someone’s teeth right down their throat. If she thought a slugfest with Ethniu would get things done, she wouldn’t hesitate an instant. But if she decided it was time for podiatric dentistry, she wouldn’t be waiting for Ethniu to come to her. Not Mab. Mab would be moving forward like Juggernaut, an inexorable force, not standing her ground.

But honestly. Mab’s “people” are the things the scary stories get written about.

“I’m kind of counting on the Big Guy making things work out so that you’re in the right place at the right time. Figure if I put these people with you, they’ll be there, too.” I looked back at the bleak, frightened, determined faces following me. “If God is going to be on anyone’s side today, I want Him to be on theirs.”

On the practical level, however . . . there’s no way to keep the Librarians out entirely now.” “A complication,” Vadderung said, in the wry tone of a man engaging in understatement. Lara grimaced. “Who are these Librarians?” Evanna asked. “The Library of Congress, Special Collections Division,” Lara provided. “Also known as the Librum Bellum. Men in Black.”

“They’re smart, skilled, dedicated, professional, they’ve got several centuries of collective knowledge through the Masons, and they will absolutely be coming to learn whatever they can. They are extremely

agreed on that, because everyone in politics enjoys giving other people’s money to good causes.