digger in the town ditches, of Kuttenberg
“I am a wreck of a man just trying to survive the mud and my debts. I bite my nails and wait for the lash.”
Things Anthony had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at None
The muster is almost here and I am ruined. I mean to melt four thick tallow candles over a canvas sack so it looks like a leather coat in the dark, but I cannot fetch the candles. I owe the chandler for winter firewood and he beats debtors with a heavy stick.
Nota scribaeHe chewed his thumbnails the entire time he spoke. I had to ask him to stop mumbling.
the second week of Easter, at Vespers
A man ought to be safe among his own, but there is a thief in our cellar. Reginald took my iron cap and pawned it. I am completely bare for the inspection now. I despise him for a common thief, but he is too big to fight.
Watch your mouth, you little rat. I never touched your rusty cap.
the Wednesday before Easter, at Prime
Julian docked us half a groschen today because our boots were too muddy. How is the rain my doing? My hands are raw meat from the rough shovel handle, and the copper pennies barely buy a stale crust.
Julian drinks the silver he owes us at the good taverns. God willing he chokes on his next cup.
the feast of St Gertrude, at Sext
The cellar roof is leaking worse than ever. Jezhek shoved poor Hynek's only good woollen cloak into the ceiling timbers to stop the drips. I kept quiet. It brings out the devil in men, living like this in the dark.
That grasping old witch Eleanor is to blame. She takes our coin and leaves us to rot. My cloak is ruined.
It stopped the water, didn't it? Shut your whining.
Nota scribaeDictated as he was buying a single crust of bread.
the day after Candlemas, at Compline
It was freezing and I was starving. God forgive me, I took the thick padded gambeson Vashek trusted me with and pawned it to buy a warm meal and cheap ale. If he finds out the truth, he will surely kill me.
You reap what you sow, lad. I only hope my brother Denis has a warm coat, wherever he is.
Nota scribaeDictated in a panicked whisper behind the market stalls.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
What do you need a sack for? You have my good padded gambeson. Bring it to me before the sergeant comes.
Ay, Vashek. I am keeping it safe for you. Very safe.