ore breaker at the smelter, of Grunta
“I break the rocks the young lads haul up. My chest rattles like a cart on cobbles, but I am still breathing.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Whitsun, at Compline
Ralph is walking to Kuttenberg tomorrow for ale and a new wedge. I told him he could just keep putting one foot past the other and be in Prague by Sunday to find Vendula. He told me to go to hell. I pulled him from the dirt, you would think he could walk a few extra miles.
Nota scribaeHe had to stop three times to cough up black spit before finishing the sentence.
the Thursday after Easter, at Vespers
Young William is chewing on dry crusts again because Daniel put him on a barren rock face. I gave the lad half my bowl of pottage. If you do not give the foreman his silver groschen, you do not get the good seams. That is just how the world is built.
the second Sunday of Lent, at None
The wind blew the kiln smoke straight into our shed all night. I coughed until my ribs felt cracked. At least the slag keeps my hands warm. I swung the hammer slow today, splitting the lesser ore. You have to pace yourself or the mountain takes you.
the Monday after St Matthias, at Terce
Five winters now since Vendula went to serve that merchant in Prague. Every day I ask the Lord to send a messenger the right way. I cannot write, and no one here has a heart big enough to carry my words. I just want her to know I am not dead yet.
Christ almighty, John, she has forgotten you. Let it rest so we can sleep in peace.
Nota scribaeHe wept a little, though it looked mostly like soot and water.
Candlemas, at Prime
The priest says we must write down our days for the Day of Judgment. The Lord already knows I break my back on the slag pile, but let it be written. Maybe the angels can read this and tell my sister in Prague that I am still waiting on a word.
The angels have better things to do than walk to Prague.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Prague is a bloody week away and the roads are full of Cumans. I am not getting my throat slit for your sister.