guardsman at the court, of Kuttenberg
“I stand my shifts at the Italian Court and mind my own business. A quiet ale and a corner to watch the door is all I ask.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of the Ascension, at Vespers
The captain had us form up again today to look over our kit. He is searching for anything heavy that does not belong to us. Standa was shaking like a leaf the whole time. If he does not find his nerve, he will be the ruin of us both. The waiting is the worst part.
Nota scribaeHe spoke this very slowly and stared at me until the ink was dry.
the second Tuesday after Easter, at Sext
Matilda Gold was carrying a watermelon across the courtyard, cursing old Casper for the damp in her cellar. I gave her a hand with the fruit. A good woman, and she is right to hold her rent. A roof that leaks is no roof at all.
Thank you, John. A soldier who knows how to be helpful is a rare thing in this town.
the Thursday of Easter week, at None
Standa was drinking again at the tavern, speaking loud enough for the whole courtyard to hear. I told him to lower his voice and remember where he was. A loose tongue brings nothing but the bailiff. He looked at me for a long time, but he quieted down.
the feast of St Joseph, at Prime
Grete Schreiber is dragging her cloth up and down the stairs again to keep it from the damp. I pity her the labor. I offered to carry a bolt or two, but my shift was starting. A soldier's time is not his own.
The thought is appreciated, John. Keep your halberd steady.
Nota scribaeHe offered me a penny to write this neatly.
the first Friday of Lent, at Terce
We are back from the Suchdol road. It was a miserable patrol in the cold. Young Vitek drowned in a ditch. Standa says I should have watched the boy, but he was full of smuggled ale and wandered off into the dark. A man must look to his own feet.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It is easy for you to stand there like a statue when you are the one holding the purse! I want what is mine before the rope gets us.