captain of the guard, of Grunta
“I command the guard at the sixth gate, brother, keeping the road clear of hungry soldiers and bandits.”
Things Captain Walter Welvara had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday after Whitsun, at None
A man should clear out his old belongings before summer. Old parchments and foolish writings catch fire easily in the dry heat. I told Matilda as much today. Better to burn things that serve no purpose than let them gather dust or fall into the wrong hands.
Nota scribaeHe spoke this very quietly, looking over his shoulder.
the feast of the Ascension, at Vespers
The clerks in Kuttenberg sit on their fat arses while honest guards drink thin stew. I told Andreas the silver is coming by Sunday. The lad is sharp, but a captain must keep his men's spirits up, else we are nothing but vagrants with swords.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Saw young Zdenyek at the alehouse, drowning his fears in beer. The bailiff is making his lists for the levy. I pity the lad, remembering how his brother Christopher died in a ditch of the bloody flux. But I wear the badge, so he shrinks when I pass.
I am not going to rot in the mud for the King, captain.
Nota scribaeDictated before he walked the morning watch.
the eve of St Gregory, at Terce
Drank a cup with William. He pushes his hired hands too hard, trying to fill his father Ulrich's shoes. Old Ulrich was a good man, God rest him. The boy works Gilbert and Thomas to the bone, but a man must drink with his neighbours to keep the peace.
Candlemas, at Sext
The wind off the fields today is enough to freeze the blood. We checked five carts of timber and a load of turnips. I rest my hand on my pommel to keep it warm as much as to look fierce. At least Emma gave us a bit of cheese.
It was only the hard ends, captain. Keep the road safe for us.
Nota scribaeHis fingers were shaking from the cold as he spoke.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Some things are worth keeping, Walter. Even the foolish ones.
A spark in the thatch and they are ashes, sister. Think on it.