My first few reads through the Wheel of Time
series, I was under the strong impression that Jaret Byar was corrupted solely by his proximity to Padan Fain (his own inherent character being somewhat suspect to begin with). However, on my recent re-read, I noticed this passage in the epliogue of Towers of Midnight
that may contradict that assumption.
Apologies for any transcription errors, all I have available is the audiobook. My emphasis added for the specific passage in question.
Graendal hurriedly gathered what she needed from her new palace. Off of her desk, she took a small angrael Mesaana had traded her in exchange for information. It was in the shape of a small, carved ivory knife. She'd lost her gold ring in al'Thor's attack. Graendal tossed it in her pack, then snatched a sheaf of papers from her bed. Names of contacts, eyes and ears, everything she'd managed to remember from what had been destroyed at Natrin's Barrow.
Waves surged against the rocks outside. It was still dark. Only moments had passed since her last tool had failed her, Aybara surviving the battlefield. That was supposed to have worked!
She was in her elegant manor house a few leagues from Ebou Dar. Now that Semirhage was gone, Graendal had begun placing some strings around their new, childlike empress. She'd have to abandon those schemes, now.
Perrin Aybara had escaped. She felt stunned. Plan after perfect plan had fallen in place, and then... he'd escaped. How? The prophecy! It had said...
That fool Isam, Graendal thought, stuffing her papers in her pack, and that idiot whitecloak. She was sweating. She shouldn't be sweating.
Was he a darkfriend? Was he under compulsion? Was he even corrupted by Fain at all?