the eve of Whitsun, at Compline
The crown is late with our coin again. We stand here shivering in the courtyard while the German masters count silver by a warm fire. By the holy cross, an honest soldier cannot live on empty promises alone.
Liber Vultuum, volumen Kuttenbergensefol. 290v
Lorenz
guard at the Italian Court, of Kuttenberg
“I stand watch at the gates so the King's silver stays safe. An honest soldier has little but his honour and his wages, and the crown is late with the coin.”
Quid vis scribi?The scribe is at Vespers. Come back after, and bring him a candle.
Dicta
Things Lorenz had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Erhard will not shut his grasping mouth at the alehouse. He calls me a coward for what happened near Kolin. By Saint Martin, it was a tactical necessity to fall back! A massacre serves no one. If he had any sense he would take it back.
ErhardYou left Markvart in the mud to die, you spineless dog. I was there.
NickelErhard speaks the truth. Markvart stood fast while you ran.
- Lorenz
I saved Kunz and myself from the horses! You whelps know nothing of real battle.
Nota scribaeDictated in the courtyard. He stared at my shoulder the entire time.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Vespers
A man finds a heavy burden in holding onto things that are better sold quiet. Joerg is a fool for keeping certain heavy cups so long without visiting a merchant. I have my own small burdens wrapped in dirty linen, and the captain walks too close.
the second Sunday of Lent, at Terce
Fritz is nattering about his sister Grete in Prague again. Christ almighty, does the lad think we care about a baker's house when there are mercenaries on the roads? We took hard losses last autumn and some of us are trying to forget.
FritzShe is all the blood I have left. You have no heart, Lorenz.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quickly and kept looking over his shoulder toward the barracks.
Candlemas, at Prime
First light and the carts for the mint are already arriving. It is bitter cold in this padded gambeson. Heinz is whining about a missing brass lamp. I try to keep discipline among these lads, but God knows they do not listen to an old hand.
HeinzI only wanted to find my lamp! It was my grandfather's.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
They will pay us when they please, Lorenz. Keep your voice down before the captain hears.