As for a Black leader,
I did notice this too, but I was in denial about TV Liandrin , especially after other known Black Sisters were not so obvious with their machinations.
Cairhien having a queen instead of a king caught me off-guard. It might be nothing, but they might have changed the rules of succession for the Sun Throne in the TV series so Moiraine isn't just a minor noble in House Damodred - she might be higher in the line of succession than she was in the...