hauler at the Pach yard, of Kuttenberg
“I break my back hauling grain for my father and never see a single groschen for my sweat.”
Things Bartel had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Ascension, at Vespers
Sweating like a pig hauling timber to the mint today while the foremen looked right through me. My hands are raw blisters. When I get my coin together, I am leaving this filthy yard for good and taking Lida with me.
Nota scribaeDictated while he spat into the dirt. I asked him to stop spitting on my boots.
the Thursday after St George, at None
I do not care what the old men say. Lida is the only good thing in this town. They call her family thieves because they are poor, but I am going to marry her, soon as I get what is mine.
the Tuesday of Easter week, at Prime
If my brother Nicholas had half a spine, he would stand shoulder to shoulder with me against the tyrant. Instead he just looks at the mud and bows. I am doing all the heavy lifting myself.
Keep your voice down, Bartel. You will only make him angrier, and then the bodyguard will beat us both.
the fourth Sunday in Lent, at Terce
Gerta is barely older than I am, acting the stern mistress in my own mother's house. I do not take orders from her, and I resent seeing her walking around acting like she owns the place.
I am your father's wife and you will show me respect, Bartel. If your mother Annabel could see you, she would weep.
Nota scribaeHe paced like a caged beast the whole time he spoke.
St Matthias's day, at Compline
That old miser caught me at the gate and locked my tin plate in the master chest. It was my mother's plate, my only inheritance, and I needed the ten groschen to buy a ribbon for Lida. I will get it back, whatever it takes.
You were stealing from your own house. You will not waste Annabel's memory on a strumpet's ribbon.
Nota scribaeThe dictating took longer than necessary due to his constant cursing.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
The girl is a strumpet and she will bleed you dry. Get back to the yard, you lazy whoreson.
Pay me my wages and I might!