u/ComfortableNo5484

So we know the Carryx are receptive to pheromones, not surprising for bug-like aliens, and we can see the direct reaction they have to them as well (literally changing their physiological shapes and essential nature)...

>!I noticed on my recent re-read in TFoB, 3 separate occasions The Swarm explicitly uses (or mentions using) pheromones, as some mechanism to help it sway other humans' opinions on things. The really peculiar part: The effect of its use is entirely unacknowledged, as if there is none. In TMoG, The swarm mentions twice about pheromones, once for shifting its awareness to them, once contemplating "disabling the host's pheromone receptor sites".!<

>!Well, you see, the thing is... Humans don't respond to pheromones, anyone with a Biology Degree (*cough* Daniel Abraham *cough*) could tell you that. We inherently lack a vomeronasal organ, the primary anatomical structure that processes pheromones in other mammals. For the mentions of the swarm actually using pheromones in TFoB, the closest to even acknowledging is Jessyn's internal remarks that "She [Clae] smelled vaguely of spice".!<

>!I've already been batting around the hypothesis that there might be some link between The Swarm (and by proxy, Livesuits/Deathless/etc) and the private creches, I almost think this might be another clue too. Why would The Swarm be so insistent on using a mechanism of social influence on a species that absolutely doesn't respond to chemical signals, outside of noticing the smell? Pair that with the fact that The Swarm (and Livesuits) literally change the host body's physical structure to suit it's current needs, i.e. its "essential nature". Really intriguing if this is intentional, and/or a clue of a causal link. !<

After probably 6 initial reads of tMoG, maybe 5 or 6 read through's of Livesuit, and 2 read throughs of tFoB, I'm on yet another read of tMoG and realized I (and potentially most readers) have made an assumption that may not actually be valid.

>!That assumption is just simply assuming "The Betrayer", is Dafyd.!<

>!Focusing on Ekur-Tkalal's final statements:!<
>!- The final statements aren't prose, they're a direct address, speaking to an audience in the 2nd person.!<
>!- That audience is certainly human!<
>!- "The Betrayer" is referred to in the 3rd person, advising the 2nd person audience they would be wise to kill him too. (Not been, intentionally present tense conditional)!<
>!- The 2nd person audience seems to have been the ones subjugating the librarian (or all of the Carryx), "and with your foot on my throat, I applaud you" (In fact it seems that the final statement is coerced to some degree)!<

>!Putting those pieces together, The Betrayer and the human(s) who subjugate Ekur-Tkalal don't seem to be the same.!<

If I'm missing something in this train of thought, feel free to give me that missing puzzle piece! After that many reads and discussions on reddit, I had naturally assumed Dafyd to be the betrayer, but what if that's incorrect?!

>>!Minds are something that bodies do!<

Thats it, no theories or anything from this post, I have my own and I'm sure you all will too. This line stuck out at me in tFoB and I'm keeping it top of mind while doing a re-read of Livesuit and tMoG, and it's absolutely having me rethink assumptions made on prior readings.