Mazrim Taim

[rand bloody althor]

Lord of Chaos, last page of Chapter 11: "It's time you started raising an army of your own instead of depending on others. Bashere could change his mind; he will, if Queen Tenobia tells him to. And who can know what these so-called Aiel will do. This time he paused...After a moment the man went on as if he had never brought up the subject."

 

I don't know if this has ever been asked, but would anyone not from the Age of Legends say "these so-called Aiel"?? who is this guy if RJ has confirmed that it's not Demandred, and is there anything stopping the Dark One from bringing back a dreadlord from the Age of Legends? Could Taim be Moridin/Ishy?

[Gentled Ben]

Rand has seen Moridin, both at Shadar Logoth during his battle with Sammael, and in his head when seizing saidin. He would have recognized him as Taim if that's who he was, so no, he isn't Moridin/Ishy.

 

He's almost certainly Forsaken-trained, what is referred to as "Minion Taim" on the wotfaq, and that would explain how he would know things from the AOL, such as the test for ability with male channelers, and would say something like "so-called Aiel." He's parroting his master(s), likely Demandred or Moridin.

[Luckers]

I personally believe he was trained by Ishy some time ago and sent out to gather men to be dreadlords, and that that was were he picked up certain phrases and other such things.

 

However, that being said the word 'Aiel' means Dedicated. Moiraine wonders over what the Aiel are dedicated to, and this may simply be that...