She may have not had the same experiences as Ivar or her father, but Gyda was observant enough to read a person's expression, and what they weren't saying. She also knew her brother and perhaps Headmond knew him well enough as well. "I am also the only in the family not to put him down for being a cripple."

Even less so since she lost her sight. Indeed, just having an idea for how he's had to adapt has given her an amount of respect for him-more so infact. "We had a priest...a brother..living with us for some time. Father brought him over from the place called Lindisfarn. His name was Athelstan, and sometimes, if he was able to, he taught me your letters, as well as how to spell some words. We used ash from the firepit or even flour if I was baking."

There was some pride in that, in being the only person in her family to be able to read. His lessons also allowed her some leverage with her tutors, so she wasn't a complete dunce either.