"Nope, she has better things to do."

Really? Like playing sexual games with Compelled pretty boys? Rather than accurately estimating the strengths and weakenesses of her key competitors? That proves my point that she is not the most formidable of opponents.

"That is a ridiculous statement to make. According to you, the only way that Semirhage could ever be as dangerous as Demandred would be if Graendal was biased towards women. How about the most logical argument that she considers either of them to be equally dangerous. I recall Asmodean soiling himself thinking about Semirhage, and not Demandred... is he is a sexist too?"

I guess the opposite is then true. Aginor is intimidated by Demandred but feels quite comofortable addressing Graendal in a patronizing way. Arangar thinks Demandred is too dangerous to try and manipulate, but feels quite comfortable doing so to Graendal. I guess both of them base their feelings of superiority on gender bias, while Graendal is the only one with a true grasp of the situation?

Oh, and let us not forget that Mesaana considered herself and Semirhage to be dead even. Even if they are not, they are clearly not GREATLY different in terms of the One Power. And yet Graendal seems to consider the gulf between Semirhage and Mesaana to be VAST. Is this again a case of Graendal being the only one who grasps the true state of affairs?

"It's so clear that Graendal, one of the greatest minds of the AOL couldn't figure out if Semirhage or Demandred led the trio."

She also could not figure out that Sammael had totally duped her in CoS. Sammael, the one without any finesse, the "bull in the china shop", manipulated Graendal completely and utterly in CoS, and got her to play along with his plans to the letter. Only Moridin's interference led to Sammael's failure, and Graendal's hasty escape from the situation.

For a great psychiatrist she didn't see through the clumsy Sammael's ruse very well. In fact, he fooled her completely.


"It may well be a secret which has been poorly kept. It's possible that Graendal has asked Mesaana or Semirhage about it and they deny it, making it the worst kept secret in the Shadow."

"Possible?" ANYTHIHNG is "POSSIBLE".

What is more PROBABLE, is that it is open knowledge, only Graendal is so wrapped up in her pleasure games that she doesn't realise it. Resultingly, she considers it a huge achievement to know about their alliance, when none of the others are surprised by it.

"She's one of the greatest Forsaken who fought in the War of Power, according to the author himself. She's thought about enslaving Rand too, and even Sammael held saidin when he was around her. You underestimate her, I'm afraid."

Or EVERYONE, myself included, has been overestimating her intelligence since FoH. It is pretty clear that Moridin sees Demandred as the real threat amongst the remaining Chosen, and is using the carrot of a secondary position of authority to get Graendal to play along with him. He has Cyndane and Moghedien on a leash, Shaidar Haran has brought down Mesaana, and now Semirhage has been captured. Now all he needs to do is bring the Graendal/Arangar alliance under his command and his greatest competitor - Demandred - is completely isolated.

He is clearly playing Graendal, just like Sammael played her, and once again she is going along meekly. Only this time, the end result will most likely be fatal to her.



"Like when Graendal calls him a fool three times, or when Lanfear mocks him about him thinking he's the Great Lord's heir, or when Sammael says that if he doesn't stop meddling in his affairs he'll pay."

Really now, for every vague reference you have there, I have a much more direct reference of a Forsaken quote showing significant acknowledgment of Demandred's stature. You know this, of course, but have no choice but to refer to these rather dubious examples.

Graendal calls him a fool to his face while wearing an angreal, Sammael blustered and threatened him in the same way he promised to kill Lanfear when he saw her again. In Demandred's absence.
And lastly, Lanfear was hardly mocking him when she truthfully made the statement that Demandred considers himself better than the other Forsaken. Once again, in his absence.

"It's funny how Lews Therin himself, the greatest of all channelers, thinks that Semirhage's reputation as a torturer looms so greatly above her head that it's easy to forget how dangerous she is as a channeler. Despite separate reviews of Semirhage's lethal nature by Lews Therin, Asmodean, Mesaana and now Graendal, it seems that 'female bias' really can settle this. It's also amazing that Moridin is furious that Semirhage would try to kill Rand. Why would he care if she's so far below a 'Dragon' and unable to do so? Clearly Semirhage is up to the task of destroying even Rand in a duel, and Moridin says she'll pay for it."

It is pretty clear that most of the Forsaken have still not accepted that Rand has the full ability of an Age of Legends trained channeler. And I can refer to numerous quotes in that regard, throughout the series, but you know all of them, of course.

"Even Demandred agrees that Semirhage could kill Rand. So Semirhage could kill Rand, but would be easy meat for Demandred? I think not."

Refer above.



"He claimed in WH that Lews Therin wasn't nearly as intelligent as he was. An idle boast if ever there was one."

He thought that to himself. His public statements have been much more reserved. He is not the Sammael type who makes blustery public statements.



"No"

Yes. I think a picture is emerging of Graendal as being less of an evil genius and more of a self absorbed pleasure seeker with fading psychological skills.



"Probably."



"He's the huge surprise that just never arrives."

Ah, but the longer it is delayed, the better the climax.