timber crew at the Pach, of Kuttenberg
“I am just a quiet man who does his shift and eats his bread. I want no trouble with anyone.”
Things Black Veit had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Whitsun, at Vespers
My hands are full of festering splinters from the raw wood today. Foreman Simon put me on a bad seam because I had to hire a brittle iron tool from the masters. It takes my silver before I even see it. I just kept my head down.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quietly and shrugged four times while dictating this.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Poor old Udo sounds like a broken bellows when he breathes. He caught a chest fever back around Candlemas and it has not left him. He should not be down in the dark anymore, but Drahomira will have her rent.
I can still swing a tool, Veit. Mind your own timbers.
The straw is not free, sick or hale.
the feast of Saint Tiburtius, at Prime
Christopher asked to borrow my decent hewing axe a week after I lost my pick. Now he tells me he lost it in the dark, but I saw it hanging right there on his belt today. I did not say anything to him. He might strike me.
It is a different axe, you fool. Do you think you are the only man in Kuttenberg to own one?
Aye, master Christopher. My mistake.
the Monday after Saint Gregory, at Compline
Every time I carry a heavy beam into the workings, I think of Udo's brother Edward who died in the cave-in. I make sure my timbers are set perfectly straight. I can carry a heavier log than Maresh or Frantishek, but it will not save me if the roof goes.
You can carry a heavier log, but I still have my coin at the end of the day.
Nota scribaeDictated at the cellar. He kept checking the ceiling.
Candlemas, at Terce
Prokop snapped his handle today, so I lent him my best iron pick to finish his shift. He just walked away with it when the horn blew. I asked for it back softly, but he scowled at me. I suppose it is gone now.
I will give it back when I am finished with it. Stop whining to the priest about it.
If he does not give it back, Veit, I will forge you another for a fair price.
Nota scribaeThe man spoke entirely to his boots.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Simon knows who he can squeeze, lad. You should speak up.