guard at Ruthardka ochranka, of Kuttenberg
“I stand my watch, keep my arms crossed, and look out for my own neck.”
Things Robert had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of St John before the Latin Gate, at Vespers
John is sweating through his pallet with marsh fever. He babbles like a frightened child. I need a steady man to sit with him and listen to what he says. He might be near his end, and it is best we know his last words.
Nota scribaeDictated at the gate. The man kept his arms crossed the whole time and spoke very low.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Johannes came sniffing around the shed for his rent. I handed him my penny and told him to trouble the others. Alice has not paid our wages since Epiphany, and Endres is pawning his jack. A sensible man keeps his purse closed and his mouth shut.
Easy for you to say. I have a thirst that needs watering and no silver to do it.
the Tuesday before Palm Sunday, at Sext
Nicholas is telling the alehouse I tripped poor Veit in the snow near Maleshov. I say Veit took a Cuman arrow and was dead before he hit the mud. Only a fool stands still when the battle is already lost.
Nota scribaeHe did not raise his voice once while telling this.
the first week of Lent, at None
A certain boy who spent the whole retreat weeping behind a cart now thinks he is owed a reward for his bravery. He demands half of what he did not earn. I told him to go to hell.
You know what you owe me! I helped turn him over!
the day after Candlemas, at Terce
We were sent to guard the silver wagons. Cumans ambushed us in the snow. Half the men ran like rabbits. I walked away with my skin intact and perhaps a small blessing from a dead Hungarian.
You were paid to guard the silver, not to run.
Nota scribaeHe asked to strike the word blessing and then put it back.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You just want to know if he tells the bailiff what you did.
I want his immortal soul at peace, Nicholas.