guardsman at Malesov castle, of Malesov
“I stand my watch and keep my mouth shut. The sooner I am out of here, the better.”
Things Richard had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Wednesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Hugh has called a full muster. Everyone is running about polishing rust and finding out what they have lost. I have my tabard mended and my spear sharp. If the Lord is good, I will have my season's pay by Sunday and be one step nearer the wood-shop.
Nota scribaeHe spoke softly, rubbing his chin, and looked over his shoulder twice.
the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, at None
Adam is weeping again about his sick mother in Pschitoky. He begged Tuma to take a message, but Tuma walked away. I would go myself, for it is a hard thing to die alone, but Hugh has us confined to the walls.
I have my own troubles. Let the headman fetch a priest for her.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Robert is marching in his bare feet. His good riding boots are gone, the ones worth forty groschen. It is a mystery to the whole barracks. Yet Andrew was asking for coin on Saturday, and on Sunday he was throwing dice at the table.
If I find the thief, I will break his jaw. My feet are frozen.
It was the Cumans, Robert. They creep over the walls at night.
Nota scribaeThe man rubbed his chin a long while before letting me write this down.
the feast of St Benedict, at Sext
John paces the yard like a trapped hare, sweating in the cold. William just sits there looking like the cat that found the cream. Whatever they took from that abandoned cart in the autumn, it brings them no peace. I want no part of it.
Candlemas, at first light
Another bitter morning inspecting farmers' carts. The wind cuts right through the wool. But I put two more groschen beneath the floorboards last night. When I have enough for the carpenter's fee in Kuttenberg, I am leaving this damp stone rat-trap forever.
Lend a fellow a few pennies, Richard. Just until the quartermaster pays us.
Nota scribaeHe whispered the part about the floorboards, though I told him it goes in the book all the same.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Lend me a whetstone, Richard. Hugh will dock me a week's wage if my blade is dull again.
A whetstone costs two pennies in the town. You should have saved them.