One of the questions during the Book Trial is what the candidate's greatest fear is. Perhaps the Elders were doing some recon for the Fright Trial...
In the first book, we are told that cursed children are noted as such for being born during Eventides and then dying during the next Age's Eventide. It also appears that while not all cursed children are Wundersmiths, no one seems to consider that non-cursed children could be Wundersmiths. We later find out that there are always nine living Wundersmiths at any given time, with new ones being born whenever an old one dies. If Squall kills the current generation of cursed children (and any potential Wundersmiths among them) on Eventide, then the next Age's Wundersmiths would all naturally be born on Eventide as well, continuing the cycle and preventing anyone not born on Eventide from potentially being a Wundersmith.
Israfel is kidnapped because Morrigan reveals to Mildmay exactly where he can be found.
The rabid bear ignores Heloise, not because she plays dead, but because Morrigan summons wunder.
Ezra is a Totalitarian Utilitarian. Ezra runs the lighting, heating, and healthcare of four states. He is not only providing "their every comfort and happiness", but also providing lifesaving essential services. Without his Eventide murder sprees, perhaps hundreds of lives would be lost from Wunder shortages in the months and years between the beginning of each new Age and when the untrained Wundersmith children eventually self-combust from unused Wunder. (On the other hand, he kills a few Eventide-born who were never going to become Wundersmiths)
Early foreshadowing that President Wintersea is not what she seems comes in this line: "The Wintersea Party is something of a dragon. A big, weighty old beast that can be difficult to reason with and impossible to steer." We already know that dragons have their own language and culture, are intelligent, and are often steered and flown around. It's a small line, but it shows just a little bit of Wintersea's true thoughts on the Free State and its inhabitants.
