A Theory on Series Structure

I am rereading the series and I just finished Red Seas under Red Skies and I had a thought about how Scott is going to proceed with future novels in the series.

IIRC flashbacks are only going to occur in the odd number books while the even numbers are set more firmly in the present. This seems like a perfect set up for having the odd number books primarily focusing on character development while the even numbers carry the majority of the over arching plot.

Lies introduced us the the majority of the Bastards as well as the Bondsmagi around whom plenty of theories are swirling. Meanwhile Red Seas was mostly independent in terms of plot but left the arc of Merrain open which leads me to believe that her unknown organization is going to also be home to the primary opposition of Jean and Locke that Scott hinted at in one of his interview. Republic of Thieves picked up the threads of the first book by introducing Sabetha and the other Bondsmagi while almost entirely ignoring the second book.

Long story short: I think the Bondsmagi are important but not as the primary villains of the story so I'm curious to see how they are shadowed by the real opposition.