soldier outside the walls, of Kuttenberg
“I am a soldier waiting for coin that never comes. I keep to myself and guard my own pouch.”
Things Hermann had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
That shiny new boy on the wall, Jezhek, wants the tally paper I hold. He thinks he can use it to stop the older guards taking their share of the brewers' carts. By Saint George, I am not giving up my only protection from the magistrate's noose for nothing. Ten groschen, or he can go whistle.
Nota scribaeHe spat into the dirt after saying the guard's name.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Endres will not shut his mouth about the iron we found in that ruined smithy down south. He wants to sell it to the Kuttenberg smiths today. The smiths here will ask too many questions about where such fine horseshoes came from. I am keeping them under the straw until we find a safer buyer.
the Thursday before Palm Sunday, at Sext
Maresh is glaring at me again over Peshek. He still says I pointed Peshek at the wrong farm for bread. I say a man who cannot outrun a farmer's dog deserves to be pressed into a marching company. It is not my fault he was slow.
You knew they had a dog. You sent him so you could take his spot by the fire.
Peshek is gone, Maresh. Let it rest. We have enough trouble.
Nota scribaeDictated slowly, with many grunts.
the feast of Saint Gregory, at Terce
Woke stiff from the bare ground again. Spent the morning looking for an unattended pot of oats or a bone with some marrow left. The King's brother leaves us to rot in the dirt without our wages. If the army moves on without paying us, we will have nothing but rags.
Keep your head down, Hermann. The coin will come, or we will take it from the villages.
Nota scribaeHe kept his hands shoved deep into his pouch the entire time he spoke.
the day after Candlemas, at None
The town guards here are soft. I watch them from the ditch. Richard and the older ones would rather sleep on a warm bench at the radnicni than stand in the sleet. I traded a bit of news with Richard for a cup of ale. Better than freezing in the tent.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You are a thief protecting thieves. Give it over before I tell the captain.
Ten groschen, lad. My pouch is empty.
Leave the boy to his rules, Hermann. He will freeze on the wall soon enough.