mender of guard padding, of Kuttenberg
“I mend padding for the guard and try not to starve while the bakers hoard flour.”
Things Christina had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of the Ascension, at Vespers
The muster is nearly upon us and I jump at every shadow. If Ulrich the quartermaster finds out I do not have the kettle hat lining, he will have me whipped. I only wanted a crust of bread, I swear it.
Nota scribaeShe wept while dictating this and kept looking over her shoulder at the street.
the Tuesday after St George, at None
I begged Milena Tanner again to take word to my parents that I am alive. She goes to the countryside for her trade, but she flatly refused. Says the tolls are too high and the roads too full of soldiers. May her boots rot.
I am a tanner, not a king's herald. Go walk the roads yourself if you love the Cumans so much.
Pay her no mind, Christina. We are safe here, that is what matters now.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
I have not eaten in two days. The bakers want too much silver for a single loaf. God forgive me, but I took the gear Kethe gave me to mend and pawned it to the broker. I just needed to eat.
I will buy it back before she notices. I just need more mending work first.
Nota scribaeDictated in a whisper behind the bakehouse. The girl looks starved.
the Friday before Palm Sunday, at Sext
My fingers are bleeding again from this coarse thread. I miss widow Agnes. She let us sleep in her dry cellar for a groschen a week. Since the coughing sickness took her, the new landlord threw us girls into the street.
the first Monday of Lent, at Terce
The soldiers burned our fields and drove us out. I came to Kuttenberg with nothing but my shift and a heavy needle. It is hard work mending gambesons for the town guard, but at least the upper castle is far from the war.
Keep your head down and stay away from Ulrich's temper, lass. He is a beast when the armour is torn.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
What kettle hat lining, Christina? You told me you were still stitching it. Bring it to me tomorrow, the guard needs it.