vine worker at Lorec, of Lorec
“I do an honest day's work on the steepest rows, and all I get is a sore back and bloody thieves for mates.”
Things Nicholas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Pentecost, at Vespers
William is weeping in the mud again looking for his sister's iron cross. I told him to mind the bloody weeds instead. If the steward catches us slacking, we'll be cast out on the roads to starve. I prune faster than any man here, but I cannot do his share too.
the Thursday after Easter, at None
Jan is moaning about his whetstone again. I told him he can have it back when he pays me for the half-day's weeding I did on his bloody row last week. He has plenty of coin. The stone is fair payment, but he acts like I robbed a church.
It is my stone, you thief. You did that weeding because you were too slow on your own row.
I am the fastest pruner in Lorec, you stingy bastard!
Nota scribaeDictated in a grating whine. He spat on the ground twice while speaking.
the second Tuesday in Lent, at Compline
Nursing a cup of ale with Robert. My back is in agony. The foreman gave me the steepest terrace again on purpose. My hands are raw from tying vines in the cold wind. We drink to our stolen gear and the bloody injustice of it all.
Aye, mate. Between your knife and my hoe, we have furnished half the village with good iron.
the Feast of St Matthias, at Terce
I saw Hynek parading around the south terrace with my fine pruning knife in plain sight. I paid five groschen for that iron in Kuttenberg! Went hungry for two days! He is a bloody thief and I want it back.
I am only keeping the rust off it for you, Nicholas. No need to shout.
Just take it back from his belt, Nicholas. If you dare.
Nota scribaeHe spoke very loudly, ensuring everyone in the yard could hear his grievance.
Candlemas, at Sext
Like a fool I let Hynek borrow my new Kuttenberg pruning knife for a single afternoon. He swore by all the saints he would return it before Vespers. Now the sun is setting and he is nowhere to be found. Bloody typical.
Never lend a good tool to a man with empty pockets, lad. I keep everything I find.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Elizabeth gave it to me before the flux took her, Nicholas. Have some heart.
Let him be, Nicholas. We all lost something. Another man still has my hoe.