soldier at the mint, of Kuttenberg
“I walk the walls and keep my head down. We keep the silver safe, if they ever pay us.”
Things Nicholas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of St Urban, at Vespers
Robert asked again about his kettle hat and padded collar. I told him the armoury is a mess since Captain Michael left and the new sergeant took over. I just need a little more time to find it in that pile of rust.
Nota scribaeHe spoke so fast I had to ask him to repeat himself twice.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Another day of salted cabbage and water in the yard. The King's treasury is full of silver, yet we have not seen a groschen of our wages in weeks. How is a man to pay what he owes to the church without coin?
Captain Michael would have seen us paid by now. This new man only knows how to dock our pay.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Prime
I gave every penny I had to the chantry priest so he will keep singing masses for my Lidka. Three winters she has been in the cold ground. I will not let her wait in purgatory, no matter what it costs me.
You are a faithful husband, Nicholas, but you look half-starved. You need ale, not water.
Nota scribaeDictated outside the church door.
the first Friday of Lent, at Compline
Thomas and Tuma are at each other's throats again, and Hynek is shouting at Walter over who broke the line. I wish they would stop. Vashek is dead and buried, and bickering will not bring him back to the barracks.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Sext
A bloody day near Maleshov. We were ambushed on the road and Vashek took an arrow. Foul luck. It could have been any of us in the vanguard. God rest his soul, he was a good man to share a cup with.
He was too slow. If he had kept his shield up, he would be drinking with us now.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It was a fine hat, Nicholas. You had best find it before the sergeant calls an inspection.
I am looking for it, Robert. Every single day.