From:  David Johnston

Verthandi isn't totally emotionless.

Never saw any until the end there.

 Perhaps, though, it would be a good idea for something to happen

to show Verthandi that there are situations her new and "improved"
personality can't handle.<<

Dealing with an emotional Skuld would be one of them. The thing is the
author wanted to keep Verthandi as a surprise until the last moment
possible. But even after then, he still didn't flesh her out enough.