woodcarver of the lesser market, of Kuttenberg
“I carve spoons and handles, and keep my head down. Wood is honest, it does not argue or ask for silver.”
Things Hynek Wood had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Bread is double what it was at Easter, and the cabbage too. I carved six bowls this week just to pay Julian his stall rent, knowing he'll sell them for silver to the fat guildsmen. A man cannot save a single penny for a feast day anymore.
Nota scribaeDictated while he was sweeping up wood shavings. He grunted between words and refused to look up.
the feast of Saint Pancras, at None
Nickel Berger came asking after his drawknife again. I told him I need it to scrape down this hazel branch. If a certain older brother of his would bring back my felling axe, perhaps I wouldn't need to borrow other men's iron.
I didn't take your axe, Hynek. Give me back my blade, I have my own work to do.
I still have need of the axe for chopping firewood. Don't wet your breeches over it, it's just wood.
A man should return iron without being chased like a stray dog. You've had it since winter.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Went out past the town limits to find good ash wood, but there are too many of Sigismund's soldiers on the roads. It's a deadly risk just to fetch timber. Came back with nothing but mud on my boots and a hungry belly.
Did they see you? The bailiff is taking men for the levy, I swear it. We're all going to be marched off.
If I had a horse I'd ride right past them all the way to Caslav.
If you had a brain you'd stop arguing with your father over a girl and do some honest work.
the third Wednesday of Lent, at Terce
My hands are cracked from the cold and the sap. Watched Bynyek Brown walk past freezing his arse off because he pawned Stislav's padded jack to Bohuta for ale. I would break his fingers if he ever touched my carvings.
Christ almighty, I'm never seeing that jack again, am I?
It was just sitting there, Stislav! Bohuta gave me a fair price for it.
Nota scribaeHe stared at his boots the entire time he spoke. The man is entirely lacking in manners.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Lent my best felling axe to Hermann Berger this morning. He said he needed it for one day's work. It cost me a month of carving to buy that iron. If he ruins the edge, there will be blood spilt.
Aye, I have it. I'll bring it round tomorrow, calm yourself.
Never lend an axe, a horse, or a wife. You'll get them all back ruined.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Julian is a thief with a king's charter. We ought to run him out of the market.
Lend us a few pennies, Hynek. I'm parched.
Go ask Bohuta for your drinking money, you fool. Do not talk to me.