That suggests their attack will, at least initially, succeed. I would not expect the Shadow to hold the city long if only because it has been producing cannon (depriving the Light of such an asset, then fielding it against them at TG, would be disastrous.) Yet retaking it would almost certainly be as nasty and brutal as the Shadow seizing it (city-fighting is ALWAYS nasty and brutal; Maradon is a timely example.)

If Mat plans a rendezvous with Tuon accompanied by Moiraine, matters with damane could quickly come to a head as well. He did not bull his way through the Tower of Ghenjei, losing an eye and Jain Farstrider along the way, just to see his wife slap a collar around Moiraines neck and teach her to speak in a timid third person.

If the Seanchan plan to assault the Black Tower as well as Tar Valon (which would be logical, though doing so simultaneously would not) we could get a preview of Mat dusting off his memories of the Trolloc Wars. Given what Taim has been up to at the Black Tower, that might be just as well in light of the attack on Caemlyn (on the other hand, convincing Tuon channelers are not inherently evil and dangerous might be challenging if she witnesses Ashaman aiding Trollocs by blowing apart legions of the Ever Victorious Army.)

As to Slayer and Perrin: Neither is dead, so their mortal combat continues, as it should; if Hoppers only legacy were Perrins Power-wrought hammer, what little respect I retain for its wielder would vanish.

As to Egwene suspecting Rand of madness: She has every reason to do so unless she genuinely believes the incredible claim he Cleansed saidin (and even if she does, if she knows pre-existent madness survived that, as Nynaeve can attest.) She is so convinced his plan to break the final Seals is literal insanity that she never considers any alternative cause. For her sake, Merrilor will hopefully change that, but until then, well, her planning thus far resembles nothing so much as an Amyrlin assembling the Westlands rulers and military to put down a dangerously mad False Dragon.