Lawrence

the eve of St John Nepomucene, at None

Godfrey is coughing his lungs out again. The lad rents a leaky shed from the widow Bohushka and shivers through every watch. A guardsman cannot hold a steady line if he is shaking with the damp. I told him to patch the roof himself.

• 
  Godfrey

  She takes my rent money but will not give me fresh straw. I am dying of the wet, Lawrence.

the third day of Easter week, at Vespers

I am still missing my good iron dagger. Ralph took it to cut cheese and refuses to hand it back unless I walk all the way to Caslav to check on his sister Elishka. I will gladly pay ten groschen to anyone who pries my blade from his hands.

• 
  Ralph

  You owe me this errand. It is just a walk to Caslav. Until then, I am holding onto the blade.

• 
  Lawrence

  It cost me three months of pay. Give it back.

Nota scribaeHe sighed heavily before dictating the sum.

the Monday after Palm Sunday, at Prime

We stood at the archery butts this morning. I can still hit a mark at twenty-three paces, which is proof of a steady nerve. Vashek was wincing when he drew his bow. He thinks nobody sees him leaning on his halberd, but the captain is not blind.

• 
  Vashek

  My back is fine. It was just a cold wind this morning that made me stiff.

St Gregory's day, at Sext

Ralph glared at me the entire shift and spat on the ground. He still blames me for what happened near Kolin last winter. I gave a sensible command to hold the line. Benesh panicked, broke ranks, and paid for it in the snow. It was no fault of mine.

• 
  Ralph

  You abandoned him. He was frightened and you left him to die in the mud.

Nota scribaeThe man spoke quietly, rubbing his jaw.

Ash Wednesday, at Compline

The wind at the adits today was sharp enough to strip the skin from a man's face. We checked the miners' passes all morning and caught no one stealing silver. The royal paymaster is late again. I just want my wages.