miner at the outskirt shafts, of Grunta
“I swing a pick at dead rock until my hands bleed and have nothing to show for it.”
Things William had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at None
Christ almighty, a loaf of bread in Grunta is up two pennies because of these soldiers on the roads. How is a man to eat when the rock gives nothing? I reckon starvation will take me before the king's brother does.
Nota scribaeDictated at the baker's stall. He spoke so fast I could barely follow.
the eve of Saint Mark, at Compline
I spent the night picking through the slag heaps near the kilns again. Not a single dropped tool or missed chunk of ore. A dog has more pride than me right now, digging in the dirt for pennies.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
John is a kind fellow, but if he whines about his sister Vendula one more time I will scream. She went to Prague five winters ago. We are starving here and now, and he worries over a ghost.
She is my own blood, William. A man does not forget his blood, no matter how hungry he gets.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Prime
The rock in my seam is harder than iron. I had to use a wedge to split it this morning, and the cursed thing mushroomed at the head. Praise be it was not my own tool, but now I have to put it back before its owner sees.
If you are talking about my spare wedges, William, I will break your jaw. I knew they looked blunt.
Nota scribaeHe whispered the last part.
Candlemas, at Sext
That whoreson Daniel gave me a dead vein because I had no silver groschen to bribe him with. I swing my pick for twelve hours and bring up nothing but dust. He wants to starve me out, I know it.
Keep your head down and pay him his due respect, or you will find yourself with no seam at all.
Nota scribaeThe word he used for the foreman was not whoreson, but I will not write the other.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
God keep us, William. I will break off a piece of my crust for you at supper.