Dangerous toughs on the street corners. "OH, where are the Aes Sedai?"

What the heck was that? Who was supposed to have expressed that view? The omniscient narrator who is introducing the setting to us?

The "magnificent" White Tower. Magnificent in whose opinion? The narrator's? Too over the top for the neutral point of view that is supposedly describing this setting for us.

I also picked up a "hadn't" in that descriptive narrative about the Tower. RJ would certainly not have used that term, but would instead have used "had not." It just is not formal enough for the reserved voice that is supposed to be setting the scene for us.

There are little things that stand out as clear problems in the writing style. Still, it's better than no Wot at all, I guess.

Regarding the meat of the chapter:

Strange that Rand thought about Graendal all of a sudden, out of the blue, while she's never been in his thoughts as much as Demandred. Maybe the whole story Semirhage told him about Graendal's madman theory is bugging him. Unconsciously he may be hoping she (Graendal) has some means of healing his madness?

Who knows. Anyway, to me Rand has become less of an enjoyable protagonist as the series has moved along. It's ironic really. I was irritated by him in the early books, urging him to develop. I loved him in Books 4-6, with LoC being the culmination of his growth in to a "man".

But from 7-11 he seems to have slid down the other edge, and is becoming a lunatic now. Ah well, hopefully he provides some entertainment along the way.

Regarding the Forsaken. Is it coincidence that Graendal and Asmodean are mentioned in the same chapter, right at the start? Another hint at the solution to the great question, I reckon.

Also, it seems Graendal might be foreshadowed as a prominent player in this book. Which, if true, delays Demandred's appearance on center stage for yet another book.

Looks like the best is being saved for last, yet again.