Richard M. Boyé <waldo@webspan.net> wrote:

Donal K. Fellows wrote:

Or in Amador, keeping Amathera company...

Oh, I somehow doubt that Suroth is the "recalcitrant girl." She's a DF after all and would willingly leap at the possibility to serve a Great Mistress.

That's 'cos Suroth isn't the recalcitrant girl. Amathera is.

Besides, I don't think that Semirhage's masquerading as Alwhin anyway.

Look, we had Suroth commenting to herself on how rapid and unusual Alwhin's rise was (tSR or tFoH IIRC - sorry, it's been a while since I read the relevant book) and that has been the real hallmark of how other Forsaken put themselves into positions of power. It places Sem in control as much as she wants without having to appear in control (let others be the visible ones seems more in line with her MO,) gives her access to a lot of channelling people who will do what they are told, and yet ensures that she is in no danger of being collared herself (the Seanchan don't collar sul'dam, as they have already been tested for whether they are collarable *ahem*)

Add in the terror in Amathera's eyes at doing something which she had probably been forbitten to do by "Alwhin" (say her name) and Suroth's comment relating to the Dances(?) of the Swan during Suroth's meeting with Morgase (a real blood servant would not have made the mistake) and there is reasonably strong evidence that Alwhin is really Semirhage (particularly when you take into account that it can't be any of the other female FS, since we can account for them all.)

If you have something better, let's hear it...

Donal.