hired hand at the smelting yard, of Kuttenberg
“I am a hired hand at the Italian Court. I bear the heavy loads while the young fools waste their breath and my tools.”
Things Veit had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The Monday before Whitsun, at Compline
I will give good coin to any man who takes my broadaxe back from Franz. He still claims I owe him for a bowl of watery broth from winter. It is thievery, pure and simple. Foreman Karl will not hire a man with no gear. I need my axe.
Nota scribaeHe jabbed his thick finger at my chest the entire time he spoke.
The eve of St Philip and St James, at None
Lawrence Wood must be deaf. I told him again I will not carry word to his family. I haul ore and dross, I am not a messenger. I am not walking that way and I have no time for idle errands when my own bread is at stake.
It is only a few miles up the road. Have you no Christian charity?
I gave my charity to Franz and lost my best tool. My charity is done.
The third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Saw Wolfgang and Markvart at the trough. They pawned good war gear to Erhard just for beer money. Utter fools. When the famine comes, they will starve in the street. Edmund is just as foolish for buying the gear for them, thinking he can replace his dead brother.
A man needs a drink after hauling rock all day. Mind your own business, old man.
Konrad would have known how to handle a sword. These boys just need proper gear and a chance.
Nota scribaeDictated loudly in the yard. The words he used for the young men were much worse.
The Thursday after St Gregory, at Sext
David is the only sensible man left in this crew, but he is drinking too much ale. He lost a carved wooden bead that belonged to his late wife Adelheid and now he is drowning his sorrow. Up in heaven she is surely shaking her head at him.
It was the only thing I had left of her. My chest is hollow without it.
Candlemas, at Prime
I nearly died of the chest fever this week. My lungs are still aching, but my legs are strong and I will outwork men half my age. I lent my best broadaxe to young Franz so he could take a shift with Foreman Karl. I expect it back by Sunday.
You were shivering like a leaf. I brought you medicinal broth out of the goodness of my heart.
Nota scribaeThe man coughed violently between sentences. I had to wait for him to catch his breath.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You owe me three groschen for saving your life. Pay the debt and you get the axe.
A neighbourly kindness does not cost a man his livelihood. Hand it over before I break your jaw.
Come now, lads. Let us settle this over a cup of ale and be done with it.