House of Sky and Breath question

I agree, the whole Sophie thing must lead to something. Idk if I care as much for Cormac... SJM has essentially set the ground work for something and it's taking awhile to get there. Like this series could easily be 7-10 books lowkey haha

Is it just me or does anyone think that Sophie and Cormac are still alive? Like what was that stone the Hind made sure to throw into the water before Sophie was thrown in? Why was she so adamant on letting her go into the water when her lackeys wanted to drag it out and torture her? We know she is a double agent now so would she not be on Sophie's side? Sophie said go to Hel in her final words so was that a code for the Hind as in, come on girlie lets save the world???? Why would SJM introduce us to her only to let her die when she's supposedly the final thunderbird? Why introduce thunderbirds at all if her death causes their existence to become extinct? We never saw Cormac's body like cmon is he really dead? Our only connection to Avallen gone?????