hauler of stone and timber, of Kuttenberg
“I carry heavy things so I do not have to talk to anyone.”
Things Ralph Field had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Pentecost, at Vespers
Saw Peter the clerk in the market today with his muster lists. I kept my head down behind a cart of timber until he passed. I do not have the silver to grease his palm, and I've no mind to march in the levy.
Nota scribaeHe spoke so slowly I nearly fell asleep holding the quill.
the Thursday after St Pancras, at None
Lorenz is at it again. Wants me to carry word to his family three villages over. I told him my legs are for the foreman's stone, not his errands. I am not walking half the day for no wage, but the man cannot hear the word no.
It is just a bit of a walk, Ralph! You have the strongest legs in Kuttenberg, it would cost you nothing.
Mud is heavy, Lorenz. Find another mule.
the Friday after Easter, at Compline
Gilbert Smith says he kept Reginald's brass oil lamp because Reginald broke his carving knife. It is a load of shit. Gilbert just has sticky fingers. I hauled twenty loads of block today and my back is screaming, but at least I am not a thief.
Thank you, Ralph. The man is a liar and everyone knows it.
My poor mother Svatava would weep to hear such slander against her son!
Nota scribaeThe word he used for dung was much fouler, but I will not write it.
the Feast of St Gregory, at Sext
A fellow took a bad fall off the scaffold. Now he sits in his room drinking cheap ale instead of resting that bruised leg properly. He is a fool. David the foreman will not wait for him to heal, he will just strike him from the roster.
Let him drink. If you lived under Walter's leaking roof like I do, you would drink too.
Candlemas, at Prime
Bitter cold at the Lesser Market this morning. Prokop Little is whining about his roof leaking again. Curse the freezing mud. I wish he would just patch the bloody thing instead of waiting for Walter the landlord to care.
It is Walter's job to fix it! I pay good groschen for that shed!
My own brother is worse than any landlord, Prokop. Be glad you do not share dirt with him.
Nota scribaeHe rubbed his neck the entire time he spoke.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye, keep your head down, Ralph. We are all dodging his shadow these days.