EC royalties. For August

So, it's January.

Ellora's Cave used to be a reliable house in their heyday. In 2007, I put out my first short story with them. It came out October 25. I got a check by Dec 2 for the sales in October.

Today, January 3, 2014, I got a check from Ellora's Cave.
Dated Dec 15.
Mailed Dec 31
And for AUGUST royalties




If they are four months behind, how are they going to issue 1099s at the end of January?
Do they already know how much they owe us and are just holding it until the eagle screams?


And then there is the lovely little rumor that EC is paying certain authors last, if there is money, just kind of ices the cake.