John of Zhelejov

the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers

Vitek the steward sends word he comes to check the ledgers next week. I have spent the afternoon making sure the books are in order. A man must be ready to hand over his accounts with a steady right arm, or these Kuttenberg lords will find fault in everything.

• 
  Vitek

  See that the tallies match the silver, bailiff. I have no patience for village arithmetic.

• 
  John of Zhelejov

  They will match, steward. The law is kept here.

Nota scribaeHe practiced handing me the book four times before he was satisfied.

the second day of Easter week, at Prime

The damp morning air brings a foul ache to old bones. I bought a salve from a Kuttenberg apothecary yesterday, but it is useless weed and grease. I would give a month's wages for Lidka to return from Prague with her willow-bark draughts. These town charlatans only steal my groschen.

• 
  Lidka

  Boil the bark yourself, John. I am not coming back while those Hungarian devils are on the roads.

Maundy Thursday, at Sext

Caught two vagrants trying to sleep in the lord's barn. I told them what happened to Maresh the poacher fourteen years ago. The rope is still cheap in Bohemia, I said. They ran off toward the woods before I even had to raise my staff.

Nota scribaeHe did not raise his staff, but he scowled fiercely enough.

the feast of Saint Gregory, at Terce

Some fool bumped into my left side at the market today. I nearly blinded him with a look. If these peasants forget their place and think the law is weak, they will strip this village bare. I made him dig the new ditch by the mill as penance.

Candlemas, at Compline

The Pope wants our days written down. Let him read that the roads are full of deserters and the winter is bitter. I sit alone in my lodge, staring at the ledger. I pray to Saint Jude that the peace holds for one more month.

Nota scribaeDictated slowly. He kept his left hand tucked firmly into his belt the entire time.