Just had a really weird thought, and I really just want to hear everyone's opinions on the matter, but what if Atthis or the Agyllians in general was the destroyer? If you think about it, it's really unlikely that Matthew will be because Isobelle has made way too many hints about that and she never just gives a plot like this away, EVER.
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And who's the only character who has been manipulating both humans and animals for centuries; the Agyllians. They have a motive; being captured and tested on by beforetimers, and they have the resources to manipulate anyone they want, even Elspeth. In the Sending it is said that the destroyer is sick, and that's true in this case; the Agyllians joined mind (which contains the mind of the birds which were tested on) is drifting away and in danger. The Agyllians needed the seeker to help them because they couldn't just walk into the Earthtemple to get the memory chip (or operate the memory chip without hands), but they did convince Cassy to place it there for the seeker, who they manipulated marvellously through the cat Maruman and various futuretellers they possessed. It I would even explain why they're getting everyone to tell Elspeth she will die; so that she just gives up towards the end and becomes demoralised. Also, notice he they rarely speak to Elspeth directly because then she could recognise the destroyer when it chases her in inner dreams (what Im guessing is the angry original birds wanting revenge).
For the record, I'm not saying that I think this is overly likely, but it is quite an interesting concept. And I don't think it will be Mathew because that would be too obvious. Sorry I didn't reference this properly; I am writing this at midnight.
This is roughly what I was thinking as well. And it fits in a number of areas. Elspeth freeing the Beasts? Well, as long as humans live they will never be free, unless the Agyllians are planning to destroy all humans and enact the Eden project?
This is an interesting concept and makes sense in so many ways. It would be an awesome twist in the plot line, but wouldn't the world become a barren black land (or something to that effect?) when the second holocaust occurs (The Farseekers)? Or would you say that it was Atthis manipulating Elspeth then as well?