Even in the Ways, that's a significantly different route to the one to Rand in KoD - the other side of Randland, in fact. Even in the ways, this is a long journey fraught with peril. They wouldn't take the Ways without Mydraal, unless if was organised such that the Mydraal "dropped them off" there.

I suspect that this was either a Forsaken's work, or perhaps even the DO's direct order. There really isn't much of a valid explanation otherwise.

The only other possibility I see is that someone on the Shadow wants to reunite Rand with the Seanchan (by showing the latter that there is a common enemy). Verin is the only name that comes to mind here.