It was a simple enough question' date=' all I wanted to know was where did he encounter Sammael?[/quote']

 

He didn't. Unless Bob has a unique copy of TEOTW that noone else in the world has ever seen. But I kinda doubt that.

It's not a very good theory but while in the Stag and Lion, while Rand is dancing with Moriane, Nynaeve, and Egwene, he notices a man by the door with a scar. The scar is described as "that fellow had a scar that crossed his whole face from one temple to the oppsite jaw, giving his nose a slant and drawing the corner of his mouth down."

 

This scar is a lot like the scar Sammael has, so some people believe him to be Sammael. He's obviously not, but the theory remains. The only Forsaken to be free before the end of EotW is Ishammael.

It is an interesting theory, but there is one thing which makes it impossible.

 

Sammael would have disintegrated the inn if he thought the Dragon Reborn was in there.

No he wouldn't.

 

First, nobody yet knew which of the three was most likely to be the Dragon Reborn. Or, if in fact it was any of the three. 90% of Baalzy's interaction with all three of the guys was to determine if it was them and if so which of them it was, and whether any of them were aware he was the Dragon Reborn.

 

Second, the standing order at the time was to recruit tDR, not kill him.

 

Even so, the Inn was torched just after they left.

 

The order didn't get changed to kill until the Horn of Valere had been found, and Fain had stolen it. They thought he was bringing it to SG and they'd be the ones to blow it. With the Heroes of the Horn in their pocket The Dragon Reborn was considered expendable.

 

Once Mat blew the Horn at Falme, he became the target and a gholam has been on his trail ever since. Until they can kill Mat and secure the Horn, they've gone back to needing tDR as insurance, so they are no longer supposed to be trying to kill him.

 

That's why Sam operated the way he did. He wanted to be the one to kill Rand, but he needed Rand to attack him so that he could truthfully tell the DO it had been self defense. Just going out and whacking Rand would have earned Sam an eternity of torture, because the DO still really wants Rand to join the Dark side. He doesn't want to have to fight Rand/LTT, and he can't afford the deaths and downtime required for transmigrating any would-be assassins.

The man in the stag and lion was not Sammael. RJ has stated that the first two Forsaken to gain their freedom aside from Ishamael were Balthamel and Aginor, and that both went directly to the Eye of the World upon gaining their. The man with the scar who was glowering so fiercely is identified as a known Whitecloak spy in terms that this had been known for some time.

 

It also does not match his MO.

 

Anath was pronounced Tuon's Truthspeaker just before Tuon left and this was commented on as astonishing in its swiftness, and the fact that Anath had been previously unknown. The Forsaken have been free since book 2, which was a little over a year and a half before Tuon arrives. Plenty of time for Semirhage to get in place.

 

Logain's been channeling for six years. A long time, but not an implausibly long time. For almost a year of that time he was gentled as well. I dont see him being insane yet. Not, Logain may be playing the fool, the alpha male, and rubbing wrong with Rand (which is both of their faults and something i approve of Cadsuane taking them both to account for) but he is not evil.

It's not a very good theory but while in the Stag and Lion, while Rand is dancing with Moriane, Nynaeve, and Egwene, he notices a man by the door with a scar. The scar is described as "that fellow had a scar that crossed his whole face from one temple to the oppsite jaw, giving his nose a slant and drawing the corner of his mouth down."

 

And Sammael's scar is described as "from hairline to beard", so not even the one remotely vague similarity fits.