For book upon book we've scorned the nobles from various nations for putting their own ambitions above the Last Battle, for trying to use the chaos to expand their own influence, but now we're supposed to approve when Egwene and Elayne do it?

Until now they were trying to restore a Tower or Andor fallen in chaos, so I could get behind their politicking, restoring order so that they could adequately contribute to the Last Battle was one thing, but in this book they were just out seeking an aggrandisement of their power.

It's funny that when a person steals from another, that person is generally viewed poorly, but when a nation steals from another, it gains esteem. Makes sense of course, the people giving the credit are part of the thieving nation, so it's just self-congratulatory. It's just curious that there is no shame in it at all.

Anyway, Elayne's exultation at getting cannons creeped me out to a significant extent. Given her already demonstrated expansionism, I do get a feeling that Andor is about to enter a glorious new era. Andor's neighbours perhaps less so.