Who needs a new task after leaving the Rebels after all. As a woman channeling saidin she would be a perfect spy among all the refugees, at least after she kills the Asha'man with Perrin (this could explain why Perrin's group apparently still didn't use Gateways). We will see..
It could explain the gateways, and it's not impossible.
I'll be surprised though. We're in the middle of the final book (in Jordan's mind, anyway). I think it's a bit late for a Forsaken to completely change her theater of operations like this. IMO, the foreshadowing in KOD is still mostly valid. I think Aran'gar will be involved with Graendal before her death, and I expect her to resurface at some point around Egwene and Mesaana. I think Graendal will tell her what Mesaana's disguise is.
If we agree that the unseen foe is a Forsaken, it would be a change for every one of them. But since we actually saw operating Aran'gar in a similar way around Egwene, I think linking her to Perrin's group would need less explanations. But your idea that Cyndane is the unseen foe has also some merit.
I think Fain is simply hunted by the Super Darkhound Pack
My theory is that the Darkhound Pack isn't after any person. I've come to believe they are hunting down the wolves, and it's the fact Perrin and Elyas are wolfbrothers that puzzled them and made them circle Perrin's camp. I doubt there's only one pack like this around.
IMO, the scene with the Darkhounds in CoT indicated that they are searching for someone, but obviously not one of the ta'veren or Tuon, as some theorized. I think the logical prey is Fain, since Moridin wants him dead and sent Slayer after him.
BTW, the blurb indicates that Slayer will yet kill more wolves. Maybe like the Tinkers or the Ogier, the wolves are in some way dangerous or at least a hindrance to the Shadow's chaos-plan, because they seem inherently "good"?
IMO, Roedran is most likely under Demandred's thumb now.
Ah yes, I remember. I'm afraid I still don't see what could possibly interest Demandred in Murandy. Isn't it pretty obvious that Demandred was created and kept in reserve so long to lead the channellers against the Light in the LB?
What I find of interest about Lugard and Fain is that since TGH Fain has been trying to transform one group after another into his new Aridhol and has always failed or been twarthed. I think it would be anticlimatic at this point for Fain not to create his neo-SL forces of darkness before the LB, and his best (almost only) option is his own home now. Jordan has always described Murandy as a nation of petty squabblers who don't trust the next village's folks. That sounds like a perfect playground for Mordeth. By now, Jordan has established Fain's corruptive effect (and methods) well, so he'd only have to reveal to us he's been for weeks or a few months near Roedran, and we would understand immediately. One Fain POV to establish this, and the story arc would be ready for action.
The Shadow doesn't need Murandy to attack Andor, there's the BT near Caemlyn that unless Logain and Egwene come to challenge it could easily wipe out the entire Andoran forces in a single battle.
I think Fain transforming Lugard into a new Aridhol from which all sort of nasty stuff suddenly emerges has more potential. Fain would have to get but one whiff that Elayne's babes are Rand's and she would become Fain's big target. Jordan has already established that Roedran has spies near Elayne.
I think people underestimate the importance of Murandy. It isn't that unimportant. Even Bryne says in one book that Murandy could built a considerable army. If the Shadow's goal is to prevent that Rand unites all of the Westlands, it makes sense that one of the Forsaken would control Murandy. Demandred makes the most sense then, considering his words in TGS.
In my view, Demandred obviously isn't that involved with the BT, otherwise he wouldn't be that surprised at the Cleansing that Flinn is an Asha'man.
A full picture of the US cover art and a longer synopsis
- 30/04/2010 02:02:14 PM
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Hmmm...
- 30/04/2010 02:28:14 PM
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I've really no idea (about the text or the cover). My first thought about the foe was Demandred *NM*
- 30/04/2010 02:36:30 PM
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I agree with you Etzel - I think the unseen foe is Slayer. "Unseen" may imply operating from T'A'R *NM*
- 30/04/2010 02:40:51 PM
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I meant that the text implies that Slayer and the unseen foe are different people.
- 30/04/2010 02:49:10 PM
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Yeah, it does
- 30/04/2010 03:48:25 PM
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Or, as said, the unseen foe is Aran'gar...
- 30/04/2010 04:02:33 PM
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Re: Or, as said, the unseen foe is Aran'gar...
- 30/04/2010 06:30:15 PM
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Well...
- 01/05/2010 10:11:02 AM
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Ah, ok. I don't agree, then! 
*NM*
- 30/04/2010 04:13:16 PM
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*NM*
- 30/04/2010 04:13:16 PM
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I'm assuming the text is fake as well, or they would have released it during Jordancon *NM*
- 30/04/2010 03:37:34 PM
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*NM*
Ugh. My two least favorite characters seem like they get all the screen time in this book.
- 30/04/2010 02:39:34 PM
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The unseen foe might also be Fain, who we know will also show up in ToM. *NM*
- 30/04/2010 03:00:07 PM
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Dude on the right looks like a tinker, and ya, Thom's legs look really really short for his torso *NM*
- 30/04/2010 03:30:54 PM
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Hm, ya. The cover is a fake.
- 30/04/2010 03:34:36 PM
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I think you're right
- 30/04/2010 04:59:28 PM
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Sweet has some serious problems with proportions of body parts...
- 30/04/2010 07:11:52 PM
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Still an atrocious cover. I hope this isn't the final version *NM*
- 30/04/2010 08:01:07 PM
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*NM*
This is the cover to Loial's book, this is how everyone actually looks to an Ogier! *NM*
- 01/05/2010 06:15:21 AM
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