[quote=@Partisan]
[@the crafty pig]

I think I'll need some form of explanation why a random, no-history lowborn cook can write and read, something usually reserved to the nobles and the religious folks. How does he know all 3 perfectly well when most Monarchists couldn't tell you right or wrong in their religion? 
[/quote]

both valid questions and deserving valid answers

as said in the cs
[i]book keeper: Can read and write enough to allow him to keep books.[/i]

 At the end of the day I was assuming a camp commander would expect some records of what's going on under his watch as such Callus would need some ability to do this.
This is literally enough to sign invoices and to scratch numbers in a ledger and trace names of products from box to the ledger. Literally the box says onions he traces onions, if those onions are actually turnips he would only know this from 15 years experience rather than being able to decipher the squiggles. 

I also assumed with the letters from the daughters that there was some form of messaging service that allowed peasants to communicate over great distance. If not I will remove it happily.

On the religious point know all 3 perfectly well was probably poorly phrased. Doesn't mean he can entertain a theological debate upon the intricacies of the religion but what a peasant would know. The basic creeds and codes that make up their daily lives. More he can recognize a monarchist and say the right words to imply he too is a monarchist in order to build if necessary some form of rapport under the small amount of scrutiny a peasant would require.

I hope that clarifies, any further questions or want it changed let me know.