guard at the vavakova gate, of Kuttenberg
“I came here for easy silver with my brother Godfrey, but he marched south and left me staring at these same stones. Now the estate is slow to pay, and I am trapped at the gate.”
Things Walter had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at None
Still no silver from the estate. If they do not pay me soon, I will be stuck here permanently like old Fritz, standing by a gate with nothing but bruised pride. Christ almighty, the boredom is worse than the waiting.
Nota scribaeHe shifted his weight from foot to foot the entire time he spoke.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Kunigunde measures out the ale as if it were liquid gold. We are guards, not monks. A man cannot stand watch with a dry throat, but she guards the daily rations tighter than we guard the doors.
Drink water from the well if you are thirsty. Ale is for men who do not rattle dice in their cups all afternoon.
the Wednesday after St Gregory, at Terce
Fritz is still refusing to speak to Humphrey over that spoilt meat. I told the stubborn old fool to just swallow his pride and buy the salt pork. A man has to eat.
Nota scribaeDictated in the guardroom.
Saint Matthew's Day, at Prime
By Saint Matthew, I am a sharp player. Last night I won a carved wooden rosary from Richard at the dice table. He claims it fell from his belt into the rushes, but it was a true wager when his pennies ran out. Ten groschen and he can have it back.
Those beads were carved by my sister Rosa before the sickness took her. You are a thief, Walter.
Nota scribaeThe man fiddled with his sword belt while boasting.
the day after Candlemas, at Sext
Godfrey told me the estate needed armed retainers for the season. Easy work, he said. Now the whoreson has marched south with a levy without a word, and left me behind at the gatehouse. I expect to take my pay and be back for the harvest.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You speak of my pride, lad? Wait until you have stood watch for twenty winters. You will learn to hold your tongue.