First off, I thought this prologue was fantastic. The pacing was excellent. The sense of ominous doom that RJ had said he was trying to convey was finally tangible. Plus, we get some fresh new insights into the plans of the Shadow.

Most people on the site seem to think Masema's vision was proof of either Demandred or Moridin's manipulation, but I believe you are all forgetting Graendal's POV. She casually thinks to herself that she knows everyone's plans except Demandred's, that Moridin's "two minions, Cyndane and Moghedien, occasionally showed their faces there [the south]. They spent their time rallying the Darkfriends and occasionally trying follow Moridin’s orders that the two ta’veren—Perrin Aybara and Matrim Cauthon–-be killed." Given this piece of information, the appearance of a vision of the Dragon, in flowing white, sounds much more like Cyndane/Lanfear than it does Demandred or Moridin (who still does not seem very serious about actually killing Perrin or Mat). He doesn't send any heavy hitters after them, his minions only "occasionally" try to follow his orders and he waited 10 books to even mention them to the other Forsaken. Of course, Lanfear knew all about them and how to locate them in the Pattern. Appearing as a vision (it may have even been in a dream) is also in accordance with her style. Mat was almost killed by some street thug darkfriends, which sounds more like Moghedien's style to me.

As for Demandred and his "my rule is secure," I am not sure we can necessarily conclude too much. He sounded a bit defensive, and I agree that the Borderlands also do not seem quite right. But does Shara sound better? Last we've heard, it is in utter chaos, hardly a secure rule, but it could provide adequate and surprising armies for the Shadow. Of course, making a whole empire, one shrouded in orientalist mystery, fight for the Shadow would seem at odds with RJ's multicultural portrayal of good and evil. Is he ruling the Asha'man? Is he ruling Murandy? Is he consolidating power in Shara? Is he doing nothing and just trying to confuse Graendal with Moridin's blessing?