guard at Kourim gate, of Kuttenberg
“I stand my watch and hold my ground, kurva. I won't back down for any man.”
Things Paul had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Terce
Some fat German merchant tried to rush me this morning. I took my time checking every barrel, kurva. We earn our keep in the mud while they sit on silver. Wilhelm wouldn't even take a bribe to hurry it up, just hoarding his pennies in the corner.
Nota scribaeDictated at the gatehouse. The merchant in question complained to the bailiff, which the speaker did not mention.
the Tuesday after Easter, at Vespers
Robert was asking after the brass lamp again. He says it was a loan for one night. Christ almighty, he was dead drunk on his watch and I saved his hide from the pillory! He can sit in the dark forever until he admits it to my face.
the third week of Lent, at Compline
Hermann is shouting again, blaming everyone but himself for the woods last autumn. It was Christopher who jumped at a shadow and broke the line, kurva! If they don't shut their mouths, Captain James will hear of it from the Italian Court, and we'll all swing.
I didn't run until you ran, you coward! You left the Sergeant in the mud just like the rest of us!
There were arrows everywhere! I didn't break the line on purpose, God help me!
Nota scribaeThe dictating was interrupted twice by shouting from the guardroom below.
St Matthias's day, at None
Freezing rain all shift. Andrew spent the whole afternoon staring down the road for messengers instead of watching the carts. If the Cumans come, he won't see them until they're knocking on the gate. At least I have a good lamp to see my tally sheet by tonight.
the day after Candlemas, at Prime
They lit candles at Sedletz for Sergeant Nicholas and young Hugh. The wind howled through the gatehouse last night and half the boys thought it was Hugh's ghost crying out. Frightened fools. God rest them both, but the dead don't walk, kurva. They just rot in the mud.
Amen. The wind is just the wind. But I said a prayer for the Sergeant all the same.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I save my coin for my own reasons, Paul. Keep your nose out of my purse and watch the carts.
Aye, let the Germans wait in the mud. The mud is good enough for us.