guard at the main gate, of Kuttenberg
“I am a man of honour, biding my time until a proper household needs my blade.”
Things Kunz had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The Wednesday before Whitsun, at Prime
More soldiers on the roads today. They say the King is still held by his brother. The Hungarians are everywhere, taking what they please. If a proper lord hired me, I would show them what a Kuttenberg guard can do, but I am stuck here watching the street.
Nota scribaeHe spent a long time hooking his thumbs in his belt before speaking.
The eve of St George, at Terce
Alice has not paid us our proper wages since Epiphany. Johannes is cornering me for the shed rent, demanding his penny a week. I have another house offering me work right now, a master who understands honour. I am on the verge of leaving this ragged lot.
The ledgers are empty, Kunz. The silver trains are stopped. Stand your watch or give back the jack.
Nobody has made you an offer, Kunz. Stop pacing and sit down.
Nota scribaeThe man owes Johannes two weeks of rent and cannot leave town.
The third day of Easter week, at None
Sitting in the yard eating thin cabbage and pea pottage again. Christ almighty, a man needs meat to stand watch properly. Every merchant that passes has a fatter escort and a fuller belly. Even the dogs in Kuttenberg eat better than Alice's men.
Aye, my belly is rumbling so loud I cannot hear the carts go by.
The Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Endres is whining again about his iron dagger. I paid his ten groschen tab at the alehouse to save us both from the mud. A debt is a debt. Until he brings me the silver pieces, the blade stays on my belt. An honourable man pays his way.
Give it back, you bastard! How am I to stand my watch without a blade? I will pay you when Alice pays us.
Candlemas, at Vespers
We were ambushed near Maleshov by Cuman riders in the snow. I had the vanguard and shouted the warning! If Heinz had not been deaf with the cold and blown the horn, the line would have held. Young Veit took an arrow in the neck. God rest him, but a guard must be quicker.
You shouted nothing but your own fear, Kunz. The snow muffled everything. Do not put Veit's blood on me.
I spoke up, Heinz. My honour is clean. You just could not hear it over your own shivering.
Nota scribaeDictated in a pacing frenzy. He pointed with his chin the entire time.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your voice down about the Hungarians, lad. They have more blades than you have honour.