seamstress of linen tunics, of Kuttenberg
“I make a living by my needle, though I have less to show for it than I did at Christmas. A girl learns her lessons the hard way in this town.”
Things Anne Baker had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Wednesday before Whitsun, at Compline
Every time I see a sergeant in the lower market, my heart stops. I asked a guard by the gate what they do to a woman who loses the town's war gear, and he just laughed and told me to keep my back covered. It isn't funny. I stitch faster than any woman in the yard, but I cannot sew my way out of the pillory.
Nota scribaeShe paced the whole time she spoke, biting her lip until it bled.
the feast of St Pancras, at Vespers
Vlasta and Hedvika are still hoarding their pennies for old Martha's broadloom. I told them today they are both fools. That nephew of hers will sell it to some fat burgher in the upper town before they save sixty groschen between them. Why scrape for a dream when there's real trouble right in front of us?
Mind your own needle, Anne. Just because you threw your coin away doesn't mean I will.
She's just sour. I have fourteen groschen already.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
Beatrice won't stop weeping about her sister in the east. I told her to save her breath. Since Roger the carter marched south with the baggage train, there's no one to carry messages anyway. Better to worry about the bailiff's whip right here in Kuttenberg than a sister a week's walk away.
You have a stone for a heart, Anne. It's easy for you to say when you have no family out there in the danger.
the second day of Lent, at Terce
Edith expects Benesh to fix the roof before the next rain. I nearly swallowed my needle laughing. The man sits in his walled house counting our rent and sends his clerk to tell us the wet is good for our complexions. I'd rather spend my breath haggling for thread.
He promised last Martinmas! It drips right on my pallet.
Nota scribaeThe roof in question was leaking upon the ledger as this was written.
the Friday after Candlemas, at Sext
I gave all my savings—every penny for half a year—to buy a padded jack and decent boots. Alice was supposed to secure a place with a soldier, and I'd get a cut of the spoils. Instead, she took the kit straight to the brokers and pawned it. Left me with nothing but an empty purse. She is a thief!
A girl has to eat, Anne. The soldier didn't want me, so what was I to do? Freeze?
You stole my silver! When the town sergeant asks where the gear is, I'm sending him straight to you!
Nota scribaeShe spoke very quickly, running the words together in her anger.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
They won't take you, Anne. They'd have to take me too. Curse the whole levy.
They will whip us both, Juliana! If the sergeant looks at the rolls, we are finished.