soldier at the mint, of Kuttenberg
“I guard the mint gates and keep my head down until we get paid.”
Things Claus had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of the Ascension, at Vespers
Still eating nothing but boiled oats. The quartermaster has not handed out our silver since Ash Wednesday. I owe Else for mending my gambeson, but I cannot face her locked yard without a single groschen in my pouch. I just want my wages so I can send something home.
Nota scribaeHe kicked the floor the entire time he spoke.
the Wednesday after Easter, at None
I asked Adam to walk a little out of his way on his leave and take a message to my mother Madlen past Kolin. He told me the roads were too muddy and flatly refused. It is a cruel thing for one comrade to do to another. She will think I am dead.
the Tuesday before Palm Sunday, at Prime
Wolfgang and Andrew are arguing over poor Franz's cloak again. It makes me cross myself. I still have nightmares of Franz shivering by that barn door, and Veit freezing in the snow at Maleshov. We should have buried Franz in a proper churchyard, not a muddy ditch.
He would have lived if he had a place by the fire. The cloak is mine by rights.
He owed money to half the barracks, Wolfgang. The cloak covers his debts.
Nota scribaeThe boy was shaking as he told this.
the feast of St Gregory, at Terce
The carts never stop coming to the mint. My halberd feels too heavy today, and the German foremen shout so loud my head aches. It is a loud, crowded place, Kuttenberg. I share my scraps with Wolfgang, which keeps the older men from cuffing me, mostly.
Keep your head down and share your bread, lad. That is how you survive the Germans.
the morrow of Ash Wednesday, at Sext
I cannot read or write, so I have no way to tell my mother I am alive. We were paid today, but how do I get the groschen to her? I sit in the tavern with the messmates, drinking water, wondering if anyone will take pity on me and carry my words.
Nota scribaeDictated at the tavern. He offered me a scrap of bread to write it, which I declined.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Else has a sharp tongue, lad. Best avoid her until we have coin.