#made some significant cuts to this post to make this about Verin's plan

[lookingforcactus]

Verin and the Jailbreak: Breaking down Verin's brilliant not-lies

Verin, to Leane: The Amyrlin requires your strength to protect Cairhien.

Actually, nothing in this says that the Amyrlin told her anything! Cairhien is under a huge, fiery attack by unknown forces, coincidentally just as they've captured the Dragon. I think it would be easy enough to argue that the Amyrlin requires the strength of all of the Aes Sedai there in order to protect Cairhien, especially depending on how thoroughly Verin is mentally defining "protect." Like, for example, if they wanted to prevent any more fires from being set or anyone else from dying, they presumably WOULD need every Aes Sedai they could get, even if they don't know it's Lanfear, bc more people are dying each minute. And after all, there's a lot of explosions and those explosions are clearly heading toward the Aes Sedai!

Verin, to Leane, con't.: I've been told to watch the boy.

And as for "I've been told to watch the boy," she doesn't say who told her. She could've asked her Warder or the other Brown Sister "Hey, do me a favor and tell me to watch the boy." It gets repeated back, and boom, statement true. Possibly, with that phrasing, Verin could've even gotten away with saying it to herself in the mirror or something.

Verin, to Leane, con't.: This is an order, Leane Sedai

Verin doesn't say who's giving the order. Really, anyone can give an order - it's just that only some people can give orders and actually be listened to. Who's to say Verin isn't just doing the ordering herself, here? Alternately, "Watch the boy" was the order that VERIN'S been told. "Order" could easily refer to the statement given to Verin, not the (completely implied) "Go help the Amyrlin," though that's clearly what Leane hears. And in addition to my speculation about "I've been told to watch the boy," it's entirely plausible that Siuan told or ordered all of the Aes Sedai to watch (generic) and make sure Rand doesn't get out, or that she specifically ordered that to Verin (and possibly any others) as an Aes Sedai who WASN'T going up to the wall for the battle

Verin, to Leane, con't: I'll take his shield.

This one's much clearer. Verin says that she'll TAKE his shield, not that she'll keep the shield up! And she does indeed take over the shield on Rand before releasing him!

Right after that, Leane passes the shield to Verin and says, "Don't let her [Moiraine] get close to you." Leane leaves right after saying that, and Verin doesn't respond. Door closes.

Moiraine: You are very clever with your words, sister.

This is a very Aes Sedai compliment lol. And anyway, there's nothing actually clever about just lying, for an Aes Sedai. After all, if you can just say something that's wrong, you don't need to do any of the very careful and cunning word/general manipulation that all of the other Aes Sedai have to do in order to mislead people

And then...breakout time! Cue lots of fires, lots of running, and Siuan looking Very, Very, Very Dismayed