guard at the Chmelna gate, of Kuttenberg
“I guard the master's doors and keep vagrants away. It is important work for a man with a sword, friend.”
Things Nickel had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Terce
That old cripple Alan is screaming from his window again. Rek slipped his rope and got into his house. The beast chewed up two of his little songbirds. Now the madman wants silver or he tells the watch. Christ almighty, the dog is just a dog, friend.
Nota scribaeHe slapped his sword hilt four times while saying this.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Eating roasted meat at the master's table today. Soft bread too. I make sure to chew loudly so the soot-stained wretches hauling timber across the fence can hear what a man of standing gets.
Your master's meat will turn to ash in your belly, you pompous arse.
Palm Sunday, at Vespers
Andrew still has my copper jug. He claims I broke his chopping block at the harvest feast. Bloody hell, that block was rotten wood and split under its own weight! Give a lumberjack a sharp axe and he thinks he is a lord.
It was seasoned wood and you fell on it like a drunken sack of grain. Fifteen groschen or the jug stays.
Keep talking, friend. You will see what my blade does to your other blocks.
Nota scribaeThe man smelled strongly of old beer.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Prime
My sword needs oiling but it still makes a fine sound when I draw it. A beggar came near the archway this morning and I let the blade clack back into the scabbard. He ran off before I had to draw it properly.
Candlemas, at Sext
The cold wind cuts right through the yard but I sleep on a good straw pallet indoors. John the hired hand jumps at every shadow by the gate. I despise a coward, friend.
I was praying for Zlata's soul, not jumping at shadows.
Nota scribaeDictated slowly, as if to someone deaf.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Vashek will hear of this and demand silver from us all! We are ruined.
Shut your mouth and feed the ratter, friend.