guard at the ironworks, of Grunta
“I watch the ironworks gate and keep my blade sharp. The young ones here know nothing of blood.”
Things William had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
John still says the time is not right to find a buyer for what we found in the ditch. A man cannot drink promises. I should have taken it from him on the road when we were picking through the dead.
Nota scribaeHe gripped the hilt of his dagger the entire time he spoke.
the second day of May, at None
The smelters complain about the heat of their furnaces again. John the smelter is a stubborn mule, and Jan Milk-drinker is a boy playing at a man's trade. I would trade their fires for a dry cloak and a night without Hungarian arrows any day.
Come lift the ore yourself if you think it is a game, you sour bastard.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Jan told me again today that the captain ordered us to stand down that night. A coward's lie. Michael is rotting in the dirt because a boy could not keep his eyes open on watch. I will not let him forget it.
The captain gave the order! I was awake, William. Leave me be.
Bloody hell, William, give it a rest. The lad is half mad with you dogging him.
Nota scribaeDictated by the gate. He spat on the ground after naming Jan.
the second Wednesday of Lent, at Vespers
Kicked Thomas awake by the wagons this morning. He called me a whoreson, so I ate his ration of bread. The flour is full of grit, but a man must eat. The roads are quiet today, only refugees from the burnt villages begging for scraps.
You are a thief, William. That was my bread and you know it.
Candlemas, at Terce
The priests are blessing candles today, but all I see is the mud from the autumn campaign. We marched south for the King and died for nothing. Michael should be here. I keep my blade sharp and wait for the wages to arrive.
The wages will come. And the other thing. Have patience.
Anna sent word from Pschitoky. I told her we survived the mud.
We survived. Michael did not. Remember that when you write to your sister.
Nota scribaeHe chewed his bread slowly while speaking and refused to look at the altar.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You will get your share when I say so. You want the bailiff asking questions about a dead man's clasp?
I want silver in my hand, John, not talk.