How does 'she overheared them' qualify as "very complex," or "convoluted"? As for speculation, what the hell? This whole question is an exercise in speculation, since the actual answer is never given in the book!

They did that after Rand demonstrated his capacity for killing Forsaken. And Rahvin's wards were not triggered by Lanfear's appearance in the Palace, so it is unlikely they were warded so close to home.

And we see from Egwene's use of Moiraine's technique that you don't need to be inside a building to use it, whereas it is apparently very possible to walk right up to the exterior of the Stone, so she COULD have gotten close enough to eavesdrop. Also, the Stone is impregnable to armies. To a channeler or to a person with the right connections, sneaking in could and should be possible. As per example, the plan Mat & Juilin were going to use. Moiraine HAD people inside the Stone, as subsequent books show, and no doubt could have gained entrance in such away. Since you are so certain of her inability to breach the Stone, care to explain her presence in the HEART of the Stone during the showdown between Rand & Bel'al?

We have also seen that the Forsaken treat Aes Sedai with contempt - Bel'al is scoffing at her right up to the point where she unleashes balefire on his ass. How likely are they to take serious precautions against an Aes Sedai, especially when doing stuff that will snare any and every sister who channels in the capital structure of a nation will almost certainly alert the Tower that something is amiss. Taking precautions against individual sisters would seem stupid from their perspectives - what they are worried about is the other Forsaken, more than even Rand.

Which she has all over the place, including several in Tear. How stupid would it be to NOT have placed someone in the very city where the Dragon is supposed to be made publicly known, at some point during your two-decade search for the Dragon reborn?

I meant they don't bother keeping their idenities a secret in ANY way, and they don't conceal themselves as Mesaana or Semirage do. No one knows the appearances of those two Forsaken either, but they did not want people finding out that they were Anath and Danelle. By contrast, Rahvin et al, did not seem to care that their innner minions knew that Lords Samon, Brend and Gaebril were Bel'al, Sammael & Rahvin, respectively. Therefore, there should have been people around who knew these things, whom Moiraine could overhear or interrogate.



Try days or weeks for Bel'al. And Occam's Razor suggests that, since she DID find that stuff out, the simplest explanation, that she overheared clues, is the most likely one.