I initially had the same thought, but it fits too well, and seems to important overall. With the CK gone, Callandor becomes the defacto "power weapon" for Rand and Co. We already knew about it's "flawed" creation....which I'm beginning to think is no longer a "flaw" but a deliberate design....which requires the small circle in order to properly operate. It does take 3 to function, and in effect those 3 do become 1 when doing so. Maybe this time a duck is just a duck?



Oh, for sure. I was yearning for a post-Semi Moridin POV. What the hell could the "merge" mean for him? Did Rand channel the TP via Moridin? Or did the DO grant it directly to Rand himself? Moridin noted during their visit how similar the two where becoming...pointing out the fatigue and wondering from whom it came...and Rand's actions after the incident scream "Moridin" in terms of mannerisms, perception of events, ability to influence those around (ie: everyone's just a tool), etc. The shift in Rand was not soley due to "the last that could be done" IMO, but also having to do with Moridin and/or DO's corrupt influence. Moridin himself seemed perplexed as to the nature of the merging and exactly what it would mean for both, and the events at the end upon DM have also surely influenced how this will play out. I'm fairly confident we haven't heard the last about this



Possible, but Rand is still tied to the Fisher-King, and there is still potential for further erosion of his mind/body...in fact, given that he's exposed himself to the DO via the TP, it's more likely that Rand will continue to erode both mentally and physically. DM episode aside....which does not necessarily mean that Rand is now "healed" as it were....even if Rand has again found laughter and tears, his body and mind can still be corrupted to the point of maiming.



Recall that Egwene was rather upset at the "rescue" by Siuan/Gawyn/Byrne. She saw it as a failure, and not as a rescue at all. It may be that had they not pulled her out of the WT at that time Mesaana would have caught and killed her. Egwene may have misplaced anger in this regard. She doesn't know it, but given the viewings we as the reader are aware of, we do.
I tend to think Mesaana had to have fled during the raid...just in case, as an adam would work just as well on her....and returned sometime after, if at all. Given that many of the BA fled...and by Egwene's estimation were given warning to do so...it's not implausible to think that Mesaana sent word out to flee, and followed her own advice. Also on this topic, Egwene may be fooling herself at the end, when she thinks that Mesaana may have the knowledge to defeat the Oath Rod. That may well be true, but Egwene seems to have blinded herself to the fact that Mesaana may not be hiding as a sister at all. I don't recall if we have definitive proof about this one way or the other, and both Verin's spoken report to Egwene and written report do not stipulate that Mesaana has to be hiding as a channeler....only that she is hiding within the Tower itself.



That's true, and I've gone back and reviewed the info on this. It may still hold information about DF's....and IMO this is part of it....but clearly there were some form of "instructions" included. Bascially, putting together what Verin told Mat and what she told Egwene, the letter (and all the others like it) are Verin's hedge against her needing to die to carry out her task with Egwene regarding the BA-AS. She told Mat that she actually hoped to return and relieve him of the letter...indicating it was something she was doing out of necessity. She informs Egwene that because she had to use the "backup plan"...poison...she had several of her "plans" seen to, to be put in motion should she not return. Mat's sealed letter is one of these "plans". And as she won't be returning anytime soon, it's expected that Mat will be the one to put that particular plan in motion.

But I also can't help but wonder if there's just a little something more to what Verin did. She seems to imply that she might return from death! She notes that "I am not eager for death; there are still things I need to do" and states that she "set several of them in motion to be....seen to, in case I do not return". Implying she did not set them all in motion, and for some reason expects to return to take care of them. Or not, perhaps it's simply what it is and I've read too much into it.