soldier of the guard, of Kuttenberg
“I stand watch at the Italian Court and freeze my arse off waiting for delayed wages.”
Things Fritz had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of St John Lateran, at Compline
I ask every merchant on the road if they go north, but no one is making for Prague. Grete must think my bones are rotting in Kolin. I will not die forgotten in a ditch, but the King's men hang deserters, so here I stay.
Nota scribaeThe man shifted his weight from foot to foot the entire time he spoke.
the third day of Easter week, at None
The barracks is a madhouse. Erhard will not stop shouting at Joerg over those silver cups, and Kunz is drinking himself blind again. I just keep my head down. I got barely a scrap of cloth from that baggage cart, but at least nobody is at my throat.
the Tuesday after Annunciation, at Vespers
Heinz is weeping into his ale over his lucky bone die. I told him he can have it back when he finds a messenger for my sister in Prague. He knows the merchants. A man's luck is a fair trade for a sister's peace of mind, I reckon.
You thieving bastard! I lost my last groschen at hazard because of you. Give it back!
Find me a rider heading north and you will get your precious bone.
Nota scribaeDictated at the alehouse. The soldier was nursing a single weak beer.
St Gregory's day, at Sext
Stood watch at the mint all morning. Cold enough to freeze the stones. The German masters hurry past with their heavy ledgers, not tossing so much as a penny to the men keeping them safe. My wages are late again. If the King has silver, we haven't seen it.
Aye. Stamping feet keeps the blood moving, but it doesn't fill the belly.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Prime
Sometimes I wake up smelling the mud at Kolin. It was a slaughter on St Martin's day, but I came out without a single scratch. God's truth. Poor Markvart was cut to pieces, but I kept my wits and survived. Still, I'd rather be warm in Prague than here.
You kept your wits behind a wagon, you mean. We all did what we had to.
Nota scribaeHe boasted of his bravery, though he spoke very fast and kept looking over his shoulder.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Stop whining about Prague. We have real troubles here with greedy whoresons hiding the silver.
Keep your voice down, you fool, the bailiff will hear you.