Contents
Chapter Thirty-Two
Overview
Harry stakes out Bock Ordered Books, interrupts a nine-person black-magic ritual, and subdues an armed participant. He confronts Artemis Bock and Ordo affiliates, learns their curse accidentally struck Daniel, and confiscates Kravos’s journal. Harry orders them to cleanse the site and cease curses, promising to address the Brotherhood abusers himself.
Summary
Harry leaves Maggie at the castle and stakes out Bock Ordered Books under a veil, recalling past threats tied to the shop. He observes nine locals—Artemis Bock, several Ordo Lebes women, two older men, and a morose drummer—gather to cast a curse, complete with salt circle, candles, altar, and a caged chicken.
Waiting until the ritual begins, Harry breaks the lock, steps inside, and kicks through the salt circle, detonating the working. Chaotic backlash topples shelves and frees the chicken. When the drummer draws a revolver, Harry blasts him unconscious and addresses the stunned group, warning the Wardens would execute warlocks for such acts.
Artemis Bock asserts their right to self-defense, while April cites worsening blowback and the Rule of Three. Harry stresses the danger and inevitability of Warden attention, noting their curses already stink of black magic. Bock admits they targeted violent members of the Brotherhood of St. Brigid, but April confirms Daniel Carpenter has kept order when present.
Harry reveals their curse struck Daniel by mistake via a mislinked glove and could have killed him without intervention. Confronted with the real harm, Bock falters. Harry demands and receives Leonid Kravos’s tainted journal, instructs them to cleanse the shop’s aura and stop all curses, offering medical help for the injured gunman at the castle.
Before leaving, Harry promises to address the abusive Brotherhood elements directly. He departs uneasy about having bullied them, and resolves to speak with Daniel and Carl.
Who Appears
- Harry DresdenStakes out the bookstore, disrupts a black-ritual, subdues an armed participant, confiscates Kravos’s journal, and orders the group to stop cursing.
- Artemis BockBookstore owner leading the ritual; angry and fearful, claims self-defense, then surrenders Kravos’s journal to Dresden.
- AprilOrdo Lebes member; urges caution, notes backlash under the Rule of Three, confirms Daniel maintains order when present.
- Unnamed drummer gunmanMorose participant who draws a revolver; knocked out and injured by Dresden’s blasts, needs medical attention.