@Metal ya the cuendillar part of it was making it a little difficult to wrap my head around it, and the fact that it wouldnt be harmful helped to allow the idea of a tracker on the seal. Mostly my reasoning for that is that its hard to imagine a man like Taim handing that over IF he is a darkfriend high or low, without some sort of motive. I'm about 99% positive he is dark and potentially someone very high up, but there is a small part of me that thinks he is just some pompous tool/unkowing pawn who could have been trained by someone. I just can't wrap my head around him giving up the seal without some ulterior motive beyond just gaining trust, he has to have some idea how important the seals are to Rand's victory and i would have expected him to naturally withhold it from Rand...I think its got to be a subplot line thats yet to have panned out, or i hope so at least :)

howdy everyone, Despothera ive read all these theories and theyre great!! and everyones comments are great too, so much insight thats either awakening to read or at least entertaining :) I had to create an account just for this cause i had an instant epiphany while reading about Taim giving Rand the seal. Does anyone think that maybe he hid some kind of tracking deal on it like Moiraine did on the coins she gave all the boys back in EotW? I'm sure they would like to track Rand if they could, assuming there isnt some other way already, but even if they know that he stashes them, maybe its to find the stash itself, to either steal them or set up an ambush. Would love to hear any thoughts on this as its my first post...

p.s. how many friends have you guys made or random conversations with strangers have people had due to these books? ill overhear them being spoken about at random and next thing i know there is instant comeradery, gotta love it