The Sea Folk idea for Demandred is a novel one. I'm merely considering it as a nice alternative to the stale theories we've had up to now. It doesn't mean that I support it unreservedly.

I'm thinking that if Demandred tried to rule them, it could be by convincing them that Rand has abandoned their deal. Didn't someone comment that Rand wasn't spending enough time meeting with the Sea Folk as per his bargain with them?

Alternatively, he could just Mask of Mirror himself into Rand, and pretend to be Rand, thus commanding them as he wishes.

The Shadowspawn could get to the cities in the same way that the horde arrived to attack Rand at the Manor.

Alternatively, Semirhage used barges to get Shadowspawn into Tear before, so a thousand Sea Folk ships could serve that purpose a thousand fold.

Anyway, my point is just that the Roedran theory is a very disappointing one. Its sole purpose is to drive a wedge between Rand and Egwene. That's not exactly an ambitious goal to be working on for 10 books.

Far easier, just invert your gateway weaves, slip into her bedroom and balefire her. Problem solved. No need for convoluted plots that are too dependent on externalities for its success.