Post by Brian HamnerCould Alana be Mesana in disguise?
I think the general perception is that because Mesaana is in the White
Tower, she must be posing as a Aes Sedai. Now, given that I haven't
read the prequel novel yet, and I'm only at the point in COT where
Egwene and Delana are talking, so there is always the possibility that
I could have missed something.
Nonetheless, Mesaana could be posing as anything from Aes Sedai to a
servant. Knowing the overwhelming egotism of the Forsaken, I doubt
she'd deign to pose as a servant. My initial thought is that she is
the cook who appeared very early in the book - I think she was the one
who helped Suian And Leanne escape the prison.
We also know, from Min's experience before the Breaking of the Tower,
that the Aes Sedai take in women who are in trouble or down on their
luck. It's easy to believe that Mesaana would be posing as a
down-on-her luck noblewoman.
We also know that Rand could weave a pattern that changed the way he
looks. I believe that Asmodean taught him that trick, so it's likely
that Mesaana knows it as well. That could mean a couple of things:
-she's able to change her appearance regularly, appearing as anyone
she wishes just to confuse and throw off tracking.
-She killed a "real" Aes Sedai and took her appearance. That means
that she could be anyone, even someone who has a history.
I can also believe that Mesaana knows some Weaves that would stand the
Aes Sedai on their ears - she could weave patterns that hide her
physical being in plain site, that use compulsion to cover her tracks,
or that do just about anything.
Until we know better, I'm not speculating on who Mesaana might be.
Jordan has obscured and confused so much I don't think he even knows
who is who at this point.
Like I say, gather them all at the last battle and blow them all to
bits, along with the DO. Puts them out of my misery, at least...