First, I agree with Cannoli that it is obviously Sanderson's work rather than RJ's but that didn't really bother me. The subtlety was missing, but in a way it makes sense and I believe RJ may have chosen the same path had he been writing it. The WoT world now is not what it was before. Tarmon Gai'don is drawing closer, the Dark One is apparently affecting the world more and more, and in a time where things are becoming that dire, the characters who are to play a large part in the coming war (or perhaps, the war that is already happening around them without them really acknowledging it) would completely moronic to be tiptoeing around what needs to be done.

The first quote that caught my eye:

Even the black-veiled Aiel, who had ravaged the land during the Aiel
War, had never taken the city. Many claimed this as a great victory.
Others wondered what would have happened if the Aiel had actually
wanted to cross into the city.

I'm not sure why this stood out to me. It may be nothing or it may be foreshadowing. Not necessarily foreshadowing the Aiel overtaking the city (though it is a possibility if they were to believe their Car'a'carn needed rescuing) but perhaps for the possibility of the Seanchan attempting to take the city. I don't know. For some reason, the paragraph stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

The next quote, which I found infinitely more important due to the information that we were subtly given, IMO:

The rebel army was poised, but uncertain. Over fifty thousand strong,
it camped in a massive ring of tents around the smaller camp of Aes
Sedai. There was a tight perimeter between the inner camp and the
outer one, a perimeter that had most recently been intended to exclude
men, particularly those who could wield saidin.

It's the final sentence that contains information of import. We're told several things in that simple sentence, or at least it's hinted to us: 1) The rebels have clearly bonded Asha'man, 2) those Asha'man are being kept in the outer camp, and 3) they are not allowed into the inner camp with the Aes Sedai. The "tight perimeter" between the inner and outer camp is there specifically for the Asha'man the rebels bonded...to keep them out because they aren't trusted. So now we know the rebels got their men. We also know that the Reds got more, though we don't know how many, and, since the Reds intended to keep their Warders in the city, they are set apart as well.

Other things I found interesting:

1. Rand not knowing whether his thought that "Should have killed them all." was his or Lews Therin's. This could either be a good sign or a bad one. On the good side, it's possible that he's getting to the point where LTT will be integrated with his personality. On the bad side, LTT's insanity is likely causing Rand insanity and full integration may cause it to be irreversible. On the other hand, full integration may simply give Rand all of LTT's memories and knowledge but Rand becomes "himself" again. I really wish that was the case but I fear it's not.

2. His sight is apparently getting better on its own. That does leave me wondering about the bandages that will supposedly be over his eyes. Of course, that could merely be symbolic of his connection to the Fisher King on the board in sha'rah.

3. His thoughts on the Borderlanders. He realizes their help would be invaluable for the coming battle but realizes that seeing them may be another fight. It's good that he's loathe to confront them since there are 13 Aes Sedai with them who, I have no doubt, mean to leash him in one way or another. In a way, I'd rather see the Borderland army get caught by the Seanchan and the 13 AS get collared. That would bring about an interesting situation as well: I don't see the Borderland leaders kneeling to the Seanchan. That isn't their style. In the end, the Seanchan would execute them and their army would be destroyed and/or scattered. That would leave it to Lan (and Faile) to bring the Borderlands to support Rand. And that feels right .

4. The Seanchan refusing to contact Rand. I have a feeling that this is a sign there will be no agreement between the Seanchan and Rand. The agreement will be between Egwene and the Seanchan (when the Seanchan attack the WT then get hit by the Shadow and have to work together to survive), which will cause Rand to have to go to Egwene. That isn't good for Rand, but it's what he'll have to deal with.

5. His thoughts on Graendal being in Arad Doman. We all knew a showdown was coming and it will apparently be in this book.

6. Possible foreshadowing: Rand reaching for his sword, then thinking he had to stop that and reach for saidin instead. Otherwise, "it might get him killed someday".

7. Alivia wearing red. I found that odd. Rand's thoughts are that she meant to be confrontational, then has a random thought that she had an intensity that suggested a Whitecloak. I know this was likely a random description, but something about it bugged me. Her wearing Red (being compared with someone of the Red Ajah and worse, a Whitecloak) is not a good sign.

8. Cadsuane making Rand change his tone with a cocked eyebrow. I hate Cadsuane and have made no bones about sharing my feelings about her. I think she's overly abrasive, rude, and downright abusive to Rand and Nynaeve. However, this amused me. In KoD and the previous books, I thought she treated him like crap and didn't like her smacking him around. But when I compare that treatment to this - a mere cocked eyebrow - it seems different because, in this scene, she reminds me of a parent reminding an adult son that even though he's all grown up he'd better show some respect. As my mother always tells me, even now, she brought me into this world and she can take me out of it. When I get too...animated...she does the eyebrow cock at me and it has the same effect that Cadsuane's had on Rand. That sort of correction doesn't bother me.

9. Cadsuane vs. Nynaeve. Again, it surprised me. Cadsuane wasn't respectful of Nynaeve in the least, but she let her have her say and despite the insulting "girl" crap, she even agreed with her on the topic of Semirhage. I'm not sure if this is simply BS's voice for Caddy or if RJ really meant for Caddy to start treating Rand and Nyn a bit better, but I like it. Whether or not it will continue, I'm not sure. This quote, however, really amused me:

“Well enough?” Nynaeve snapped. She had made no promises to
Cadsuane about civility. “That woman is infuriating!”

10. Rand's refusal to let Cadsuane and Nynaeve hurt Semirhage or even threaten her in order to get information. I love Rand, but he's a numskull with this. Nynaeve's comment that Semirhage tells them that she'll kill them all may be foreshadowing and, in a way, I hope it is. Perhaps if Semirhage wastes Min or Nynaeve or Cadsuane (after Rand thinks to himself that she is worth her constant demands for decorum), he may stop being such an idiot about treating women of the Shadow as if they're delicate little flowers who must be treated with the utmost gentleness.

11. Cadsuane agreeing to do as Rand wishes with Semirhage despite her knowing that it's pure idiocy. I actually expected Cadsuane to be running things and Rand to be forced to accept it. Cadsuane has to see the danger of doing as Rand wishes, to herself and to Rand and his other allies, yet she obeys his wishes. It's...shocking. As much as I like Rand and want to see him supported completely, in Caddy's and Nyn's position I'd likely do as I pleased and ask forgiveness later, but perhaps the lesson she has to teach him will come as a result of his idiocy with Semirhage. One can hope, at least.

12. Nynaeve's comment about the rules not applying to Semirhage. Me thinks Nynaeve's darker side might be attempting to get to the surface. We really haven't seen it from her yet - she was almost too lenient with the sul'dam when she rescued Egwene and was too lenient with Moghedien by far - but I have to wonder if the threat Semirhage poses may be making her harder. Perhaps whatever happens with Semirhage may not only knock some sense into Rand but will give Nynaeve more of an edge as well.

13. Anyone who knows me had to know I'd comment on this:

“Turn her over to the White Tower, you say?” he said, glancing back
into the room. “Which White Tower? Would you entrust her to Elaida?
Or did you mean the others? I doubt that Egwene would be pleased if I
dropped one of the Forsaken in her lap. Egwene might just let
Semirhage go and take me captive instead. Force me to kneel before
the White Tower’s justice and gentle me just to give her another notch
in her belt.”

Nynaeve frowned. “Rand! Egwene would never—”

“She’s Amyrlin,” he said, downing his cup of wine in one gulp. It was as
putrid as he recalled. “Aes Sedai to the core. I’m just another pawn to
her.”

The boy realizes he can't trust Egwene, which is a good thing. I don't even think she'd gentle him (not until after Tarmon Gai'don, at least), nor do I believe she'd let Semirhage go, but I think he's spot on with the rest of this and that she would definitely make him kneel. I just hope he keeps this attitude so that, when he "knows her anger", he can go off on her in return instead of being a mealy mouthed wuss who bends to her will.

14. Cadsuane's reaction to Rand yelling at Lews Therin. Again, I do loathe her, but I found this priceless. She calmly sips tea while Rand yells at a voice in his head. Nynaeve's reaction was almost as good: a yank of the braid. Neither one goes off on him for yelling and no one tells him he's screwed in the head. They just accept it and keep going, in their own way. By the way, what was the "knowing" look from Alivia? She's beginning to give me the creeps in this chapter.

15. This part made me want to cry for Rand:

The thought was trivial. Ridiculous. He wanted to laugh. Only, the
sound wouldn’t come out. He couldn’t summon even a wry humor, not
anymore. Light! I can’t keep this up. My eyes see as if in a fog, my
hand is burned away, and the old wounds in my side rip open if I do
anything more strenuous than breathe. I’m dry, like an overused
well. I need to finish my work here and get to Shayol Ghul.

Otherwise, there won’t be anything left of me for the Dark One to kill.

This is too close of a thought to my "Egwene will collar him and strap him to her back because he's blind, deaf, mute, armless, legless, bleeding and can't channel" scenario for comfort. The worst part is that he's right. He needs to break the seals and get on with it before there's no choice but to go with my scenario. Poor Rand.