minter's wife, of Kuttenberg
“I'm Kunz's wife, and I keep our house while he works the mint shifts. I try to keep my head down and my eyes on my own doorstep.”
Things Christina Lorenz had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Compline
The price of meal has gone up again. That's what I told Kunz tonight when the pot was mostly water and cabbage. I said the Hungarian soldiers on the roads make everything dear, and he didn't argue. He's tired from the mint, and I'm tired from keeping the house. We do what we must to get by.
Nota scribaeThe woman spoke very quietly and kept looking back at her door.
the Monday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
Poor Margery was crying by the tubs this morning. Her mother Joan chased her carpenter Richard off to Kolin, and she thinks no one understands her broken heart. I told her the world is too hard for such dreams, but she wouldn't hear it. I suppose it's better to cry for a carpenter than to have no hope at all.
You are the only one who understands, Christina. The other women just mock me. Richard was going to build us a fine chest.
I know how she feels. Jan is in Prague, and I fear he'll never come back with those Cumans about.
the Friday before Palm Sunday, at None
I saw Berchta Weiss walking past widow Anna's house today. She held her nose high and wouldn't even look at the door. I know Berchta ruined her own imported dye and blamed Anna out of pride, but I'll never say it aloud. It's not my place to speak against a merchant's wife. I just looked at the ground until she passed.
That old woman is a curse on this street. My dye was ruined because of her clumsy ways, and I won't hear otherwise.
I haven't left my bed since winter! How could I ruin her precious dye? She's a liar and a fool.
the Wednesday of Easter week, at Terce
Betty Weaver is still asking after her bone die. Sibyl Bauer has it, I know she does. Sibyl is desperate for coin and too proud to admit it, so she keeps the tool. I pity Betty, she works so hard at her weaving, but I won't step in. If I take a side, they'll all start looking at me, and I can't have that.
I just need my die back. I can't finish the linen thread without it, and I need the groschen.
I don't know what you're talking about, Christina. I haven't seen her die.
Nota scribaeShe asked me to write this down, but begged me not to tell Sibyl.
the eve of St George, at Vespers
I counted the pennies in the flour jar today while Kunz was at the mint. I'm still short of what I need for the silver clasp before Saint John's Day. I'll have to tell Kunz the meal is even dearer next week. I hate lying to him, but I just want one small thing of my own. Mabel Eldris keeps looking at me like she knows.
I know you're hiding a grave sin, Christina. I can see it in your eyes. The Lord sees all.
What flour jar? What are you talking about, wife?
Nothing, husband. Just a dream I had. The scribe wrote it down wrong.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
There's more than soldiers making the meal dear. I've heard strange noises at night. The Devil is at work in this town, Christina.
It's just the wind, Mabel. And the war.