hauler of stone and timber, of Kuttenberg
“I haul honest cartloads from the mines and tally every penny I am owed, while thieves and merchants plot to beggar me.”
Things Benesh Stone had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The eve of St John before the Latin Gate, at Compline
Looked through the window of the alehouse and saw that thief Kvyetoslav drinking near the hearth. I spat in the dirt and walked a half mile to a worse tavern. It cost me an extra penny for sour brew, but I will not share a roof with him.
Nota scribaeHe spent a quarter of an hour counting the paces he walked to the second tavern.
The second day of Easter week, at Terce
Joan still ails. Will any honest man go to the market and buy six eggs for me? I will give you the coppers, exactly what they cost before the feast, not a halfpenny more. Do not tell those thieving market women the eggs are for Benesh Stone.
My crushed hand aches too much to carry baskets today, Benesh, or I would go.
You play the saint, Philip, but your burdens are nothing to a man barred from the egg stall.
The Tuesday before Easter, at Vespers
Those screaming hags at the market stalls barred me from buying. I told them they were thieves conspiring against honest townsmen, pricing eggs like silver! Now my niece Joan is sick with a fierce stomach ailment and needs an egg broth. What am I to do?
Never yield to them, Benesh. I have not spoken to Bynyek over a cabbage in ten years. Stand your ground.
Uncle, please, my stomach is in knots. Just beg their pardon and buy the six eggs.
Nota scribaeDictated in a panic near the lower market. He shouted the word thieves twice.
The Monday after St Matthias, at None
Four cartloads of timber today, three groschen a load, and the King's soldiers have trampled the roads so deep in mud it took twice as long. Jarda and Godfrey complained of the work, throwing their coppers away on dice later. Fools. I sat and ate my own bread.
It is a wonder you do not charge yourself a halfpenny just for chewing your own crust.
Nota scribaeHe rubbed his chin without ceasing and listed the price of every plank he hauled.
Candlemas, at Prime
Walked the Sedletz road at dawn to check the boundary stones. That thief Kvyetoslav thinks our late father left the dirt to him, but the eldest son inherits. I counted the markers, all five of them untouched. He will not plant a single seed there while I draw breath.
Father whispered it to me on his deathbed, you bitter old miser. Stay off my dirt.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You cut off your own nose, Benesh. The brew here is piss and you paid a whole penny for it.