miner and hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I was the strongest lifter at the Italian Court until I took a tumble. Now I sit by this wall waiting for my leg to knit.”
Things Drslav the Boar had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Wednesday before Ascension, at None
My leg throbs like a cursed tooth and the ale is gone. If Francis the Hare does not bring my tool back today, I will crawl over there and beat him with my crutch. I need the groschen for bread, you whoreson.
Nota scribaeDictated from the mud. The man smelled strongly of old ale and sweat, and winced when he spoke.
the Monday after St Mark, at Prime
Drunkard Vitek keeps sending strangers to look at my leg to see if it is rotting off. Mind your own business. It is knitting fine and I will be back hauling blocks for Lambert before St John's Day. I am not a dying dog, so leave me be.
I only meant well, Drslav. A man died of a black leg last year after a cart ran him over.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Slipped off the timber wagon and my leg gave way with a crack beneath me. Christ almighty, the blinding pain. Lambert crossed my name off the ledger before I even hit the dirt. Tossed aside like a broken wheel spoke after all the weight I carried for him.
That is how it goes. You break your back for them and they leave you to starve in the dirt.
Nota scribaeThe speaker drew sharp breaths through his teeth at every word, clutching his thigh.
the Wednesday after Laetare Sunday, at Terce
Saw Dietrich the Sly and Peshek the Horse taking their gear to Juliana's grille again. Fools pawned their own war gear just to eat. It is a hard spring for wages and the bread is dear, but a man should keep his steel and his tools if he wants to survive.
A sword is no good if your belly is empty enough to make you faint, Drslav.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Flush with my week's pay and a belly full of ale. Lent my best tools to Konrad the Ox and Francis the Hare for the palisade work. See that you bring them back by Sunday, lads, they cost me a month's hard sweat in the dirt.
You will have it when the posts are set, lad. Do not fret over it.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I will bring it when the work is done. A man cannot rush a palisade.
You have had it since the snow was thick. Bring it back before I break your jaw.