Lanfear tells the other Forsaken that Asmodean has turned coat and joined Rand’s cause, which surprises some like Sammael who believed Asmodean too cowardly to take such a chance.  They do not know that he is severely weakened by the shield Lanfear has placed on him and has no choice but to reluctantly teach Rand various channeling techniques as well as giving Rand what information he knows about the activities, strengths, and weaknesses of the other Forsaken.

Asmodean, disguised as the gleeman Jasin Natael is with Rand in the Aiel Waste, where Rand keeps a close eye on him, keeping him close even when sharing plans with others such as Moiraine.  Asmodean pushes the boundaries of his captivity leading to confrontations with Rand, who is slowly sinking into an angry and paranoid state of mind.  Rand realizes that the shield on Asmodean has restricted his power greatly, making even simple channeling feats difficult and believing lifting a goblet may be the edge of his ability now.  Lanfear continues to check in on Rand and tells him not to listen too closely to Asmodean as the man was untrustworthy even in the Age of Legends, having severed his own mother and giving her to Myrddraal.

Rand asks Asmodean if he ever considers coming back to the Light, to which Asmodean replies that it would be a death sentence if he was lucky and that he would prefer to give himself over to Semirhage than know what the Dark One would do to him.  Asmodean teaches Rand about inverting weaves and explains that men cannot link without a woman to join them.  He also explains some of the nature of the Oaths taken by Aes Sedai, clueing Rand in on the fact that if an Aes Sedai believes something to be true she will be able to speak it, even if it is false.  Asmodean believes that Rand has almost no chance of winning the Last Battle, especially when Rand tells him he has destroyed the Choedan Kal Access Key. No longer protected from the taint Asmodean admits that he will also end up going mad unless Rand wins the Last Battle and thus has decided to cling to his only chance at life for the moment, but intends to commit suicide the moment he learns the Dark One is free.

As the party travels through the Spine of the World Asmodean tells Rand that the ruins of what must be a port city high in the mountains could have been from the city in which he was born, Shorelle.  Kadere, who is unaware of Natael’s identity, suspects that Natael had killed Keille Shaogi and quietly disposed of her body.  He has received a message from another darkfriend alluding to the Chosen and considering what his options are, believing that the note must come from one of the Aiel.  Kadere, under Lanfear’s orders, has set Isendre to seduce Rand and Natael for information.  Natael has given her nothing and the Maidens who have Isendre as a prisoner have effectively broken Isendre after her multiple attempts to seduce Rand were caught out.  Kadere murders Isendre and hides her body to avoid any chance that she might reveal him as a darkfriend.

Asmodean continues with Rand into Cairhien, chasing the Shaido led by Couladin and Sevanna.  He is present when Mat lays out what he would do in the tactical situation around the City to Lan and is surprised by what he hears, possibly suspecting that Mat is more than meets the eye.  After the fighting Asmodean is with Rand as he recovers from his injuries and learns that Mat killed Couladin in battle.  Later, Rand is told of Morgase’s death at Rahvin’s hands and vows to go to Caemlyn to kill the Forsaken.  Asmodean tells Rand that he wishes to go with him, despite the shield still being as strong as ever Asmodean believed he could help Rand in some small way.  Rand has also realized that Asmodean’s teaching has increased his own strength.

Kadere, who is still watching Asmodean, is shocked when Keille Shaogi reappears and reveals to him her identity as Lanfear.  Upon learning that Rand is having a sexual relationship with Aviendha she skins Kadere alive and attacks Rand on the docks.  After the battle on the docks leaves Egwene and Aviendha badly injured and Moiraine and Lanfear vanished through the redwood ter’angreal Rand reads a letter left by Moiraine intimating that she is aware of Natael’s identity as one of the Forsaken, she understands the need but warns Rand to be wary of the man.

Asmodean joins Rand, Mat, and Aviendha in the expedition to Caemlyn and is impressed with Rand’s ability to create a huge platform for skimming roughly three thousand to transport them.  Once in Caemlyn Rand immediately goes to attack Rahvin, during the battle Rand sees Mat, Aviendha, and Asmodean have been killed by what appears to be lightning.  Rand eventually uses a massive bolt of balefire on Rahvin and burns his thread out of the pattern, undoing some of his recent past actions including killing Mat, Aviendha, and Asmodean.  Asmodean deduces what has happened as he notes the surprise many of the Aiel show when they see him alive after the attack and realizes balefire was used and he was effectively resurrected from death.  Wandering into a pantry to find himself face to face with an unknown person, his last words being “You? No!” he was dead before the words faded from the air.