water carrier and washerwoman, of Kuttenberg
“I am trapped in Kuttenberg and my family does not know if I draw breath. I just need an honest messenger, but folk here are tight-fisted.”
Things Lidka Wood had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the feast of St Philip and St James, at Vespers
Ursel passed through the market again today. I caught her sleeve and begged her to take my message north. She claims she does not go that way, but I know she just waits for silver I do not have. Have some pity!
the third day of Easter week, at None
That Marika Bell is wailing about a wet floor and a leaking roof again. A wet room behind a high city wall is heaven compared to an open field with soldiers roaming. Be thankful you have a roof to leak at all.
We should all be grateful for our daily bread and the roof the Lord provides.
the Thursday before Palm Sunday, at Prime
More refugees on the road today. They speak of burnt fields and stolen livestock. I must get word to my family that I am alive and hauling water here. If any merchant has a horse heading north, I have broken bread to share.
The Lord watches over the innocent. Come to mass and find peace.
Peace will not tell my father I am alive!
Nota scribaeShe stood too close while dictating and spoke very quickly.
St Gregory's day, at Sext
The clerk says we must write our days for the Pope in Rome. I told him to write this: my name is Lidka, I am alive, and I have work in Kuttenberg! If anyone reads this book and goes north, tell my father!
Nota scribaeThe woman grabbed my arm and would not let go until I wrote her exact words.
the eve of Candlemas, at Terce
The roads are choked with mercenaries and I cannot leave this town. The cobblestones freeze the blood in my feet when I carry the buckets from the well. I only meant to stay a short while.
We will share our loaves tonight. We must stay strong against this indifferent town.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I am not going north! Let go of my arm and stop following me through the stalls.
Keep at her, Lidka. They always break eventually if you press them hard enough.