guard at the city gates, of Kuttenberg
“I stand by the gate until my feet go numb, waiting for coin that never comes.”
Things Hynek had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Whitsun, at Vespers
Adam sits on his arse like a brooding hen. If a man finds a heavy silver thing in the mud, he ought to find a buyer for it before the captain starts asking questions. We are broke, and sitting on a fortune helps no one.
Nota scribaeThe man whispered the middle part, but I have ears.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Saw Kunz crossing the yard today. I spat right between my boots, as is my habit. Some men run when the arrows fly, and some men have to remember the ones who were left behind in the mud. I wish the memories would stop.
I held the line as long as any man could. You were just too blind to see it through the rain.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Four hours at the gate in the freezing wind, checking carts of rotten turnips. The only good thing to happen today was taking three groschen off Heinz at dice. At least my hands are good for throwing, if not for holding this rusted halberd.
The dice were crooked, I swear by God's nails.
You lost fair and square, Heinz. Pay the man.
Nota scribaeHe smelled strongly of cheap ale.
the first Monday of Lent, at Prime
The bailiff says the king's coin is delayed again. I cannot drink promises, and the alehouse wife will not take a pledge on my rusted mail. If the wages do not come by Sunday, I will start charging a toll of my own.
Aye, my boots have holes in them and the quartermaster just laughs.
Candlemas, at Compline
I lit a taper for my uncle today. The earth crushed him flat in the mines when I was a lad. It is bloody freezing on these walls, but it is better to shiver under the open sky than die in the dark under a mountain.
Nota scribaeDictated at the church door.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your bloody voice down. The time is not right to take it to the silversmith.
The time will be right when we are both hanging from a tree.