They didn't have their Warders in there, to protect while they were working up their weaves. Can you remember how long it took Moiraine to do anything with the One Power. Just as well Lan was such an awesome fighter cos she'd have been cut down before she got a fireball off. The Black Ajah has been used to using the One Power in violation of the Three Oaths. If I had had someone coming towards me and had the choice of spending a good few seconds weaving something up, and being vulnerable while I did it, or just battering them with a big stick then I'd choose the big stick too. I think it all just went to show how unprepared and over confident they were. They had NO idea what they were up against. #hubris

Also that dance around the subject she had with Liandrin and the White asparagus still makes me laugh 😃

Verin is a sneaky sneak who just seems to know that Liandrin is a bad, and that compulsion was used in the book of novices (allegedly) and wouldn't swear an oath of goodness to Moiraine and also made sure that Rand was set free. ... You gotta be subtle when you're planning a shock reveal.

There are many paths to the Shadow. If the Forsaken don't know what each other are up to, then having factions in the Black Ajah also holds true.