watchman at the Kolin gate, of Kuttenberg
“I stand watch at the Kolin Gate and keep the beggars out. I held my ground against the Hungarians when others ran, and I have no time for cowards.”
Things Mathes had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at Vespers
That whoreson Nicholas will not shut his mouth about his sister Rosa in Prague. He begs James every day to take a message. Good men are rotting in the dirt at Sedletz and this pathetic bastard weeps over a girl.
Nota scribaeThe man glared at me the entire time he spoke. I fear he may strike me.
the eve of St George, at Prime
Roger is spreading lies again. He claims Walter and I stepped back from the Hungarian halberds last autumn and left Peter to die. Peter was just overwhelmed. I held my ground like a true soldier. Walter can make his own excuses, the jumpy rabbit.
the third day of Easter week, at None
The council pays us a miserable wage for this watch. Barely enough for a stale loaf. And then Zdenyek smiles and drains the men of their few pennies at dice. I should throw his dice over the wall.
Nobody forces you to play, Mathes. Keep your coin if you are so tight.
the Thursday after St Gregory, at Compline
Leonard was the bravest man in Kuttenberg. He died at the bridge because that old bastard Johannes lost his nerve and called the retreat. Johannes left a good man to be butchered. Somebody ought to beat the truth out of him and make him say he was afraid.
The line was broken, you fool. Falling back saved the rest of you.
You ran because you are a coward, and Leonard paid for it.
Nota scribaeDictated at the guardhouse. He shouted the last sentence so loudly my ears rang.
Candlemas, at Sext
I lit a candle for Leonard today. A true friend. God rest his soul. It makes me sick to think of him lying in the frozen mud near Sedletz. He owed me five groschen, but I do not care about the coin. I only care that my brother is dead.
He was a good lad. We all miss him.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
She is my own blood, Mathes. You would not understand.
Leave him be, I told him I would ask the merchants.