hired hand at the forge, of Kuttenberg
“I work the bellows and haul iron until my shoulders burn. I survive because I am no fool, which is more than the dead can say.”
Things William had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
The spring muster is looming and I still do not have my fifteen groschen for Martin the broker. That whoreson Ralph knows what the captain will do to me if I stand in the line bareheaded. I bought that kettle hat with my own sweat and he pawned it out of sheer spite.
Nota scribaeDictated in the cellar tavern. The man smelled heavily of coal and thin ale.
the feast of Saint Pancras, at Vespers
Another day pumping the bellows until my arms feel like lead. The master counts every penny of the slag we sweep but will not raise a wage. At least Joan pours a fair measure at the dira, even if she will not stop cursing about that weaver Elizabeth's apron.
If she ruins my best apron with her spilled jug, she will hear about it until Judgment Day!
Leave it be, Joan. My hand aches too much to hear you shouting tonight.
the second day of Easter week, at None
I see Thomas and Nicholas arguing over a padded jack pawned to Martin the broker. It gives me a grim comfort to know I am not the only one ruined by that cellar leech. Christ almighty, the man bleeds the whole town dry when the wages are late.
It is my jack, William! Nicholas had no right to hand it over.
I needed the coin, Thomas. Same as Ralph did with your helmet, William.
Nota scribaeHe paused often to rub his jaw with a black thumb.
the Monday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
The guildmaster came by the forge today. I held my breath, terrified that apprentice Ralph had been whispering his lies about me breaking the shield wall at Maleshov. I will not apologize for staying alive when the Hungarian horsemen came around the trees. I am a survivor, not a martyr.
Jan stood his ground. You ran. That is no lie.
Leave off, Ralph. The Cumans cut through us like butter. None of us wanted to die.
Get back to the bellows, both of you, or you will both be begging for bread.
Candlemas, at Prime
Cold enough to freeze the water in the bucket. I went hungry to buy that iron kettle hat before the autumn levy. When I saw the boy shivering on the road, I gave it to him to keep his ears warm. Bloody hell, no good deed goes unpunished.
I was shivering because I saw my friend die while you showed the Cumans your back.
Nota scribaeThe subject spat on the floor after saying this, which I politely ignored.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You owe a life, William. A hat is cheap next to Jan. Pay Martin yourself.
We were outflanked, you blind bastard! Staying meant two dead instead of one.
Keep your voices down, both of you. The watch is coming.