with the Shaido she was simply part of Sammael's plan and in her own palace she had an elaborate ruse of being an old sick lady to keep people away. Very specific reasons to use the MoM.



Agreed, but that doesn't mean she didn't invert it.



It speaks to her habits though, she's the only FS we know that has ever appeared to look for what another FS may have left behind. It's possible that Graendal entered the Palace on the ground floor in a secluded spot and by pure chance Asmo happened in on her ... Rand being ta'veren does make wild coincidence occur. It's far more unlikely that she would have simply jumped into Rahvin's rooms knowing that's the most likely spot for Rand to be!



Is there a quote somewhere saying that the DO could not bring him back? IIRC it's only stated that Rahvin was beyond him and later RJ made a comment about Sammael being consumed by Mashadar put him outside of the DOs ability to return. Asmodean was just called weak.

The only quote I'm familiar with here is

LOC
Prologue

"Rahvin is dead, Great Lord. Yesterday." There was pain. Euphoria too strong became pain quickly. His arms and legs twitched. He was sweating, now. "Lanfear has vanished without a trace, just as Asmodean did. And Graendal says Moghedien failed to meet her as they had agreed. Also yesterday, Great Lord. I do not believe in coincidence."

THE CHOSEN DWINDLE, DEMANDRED. THE WEAK FALL AWAY. WHO BETRAYS ME SHALL DIE THE FINAL DEATH. ASMODEAN, TWISTED BY HIS WEAKNESS. RAHVIN DEAD IN HIS PRIDE. HE SERVED WELL, YET EVEN I CANNOT SAVE HIM FROM BALEFIRE. EVEN I CANNOT STEP OUTSIDE OF TIME. For an instant terrible anger filled that awful voice, and – could it be frustration? An instant only. DONE BY MY ANCIENT ENEMY, THE ONE CALLED DRAGON. WOULD YOU UNLEASH THE BALEFIRE IN MY SERVICE, DEMANDRED?