soldier at Malesov garrison, of Malesov
“I stand watch and freeze in the wind, trying to keep my neck out of a Cuman noose.”
Things Jezhek had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second day of May, at Prime
Christ almighty, these boots are tight. Woke up sweating again, thought someone was rooting through my saddlebags. I swear by the Holy Virgin, if one of you bastards touches my kit, I will put a spear through your belly. It is just my spare tunic in there anyway.
Nota scribaeThe man kept looking at his boots while speaking and sweated through his shirt.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
I am sick to death of hearing about Otto. He broke formation in the woods! I blew the horn to save the rest of us from those Cuman bastards! I did what had to be done. Any man who says otherwise is a liar and a fool.
the eve of Palm Sunday, at Vespers
If Adam whines about his sister Pavlena in Prague one more time, I will throw myself off the perimeter wall. And Thomas is just as bad with his brother Alan in Sasau. Neither of you can even read! Shut your traps and eat your oats.
He is a tanner's apprentice, lad! Family is family, not that a cold fish like you would know.
Nota scribaeDictated in the lower bailey. The man kicked a bench when he mentioned the brother.
St Gregory's day, at Compline
Denis has not stopped sulking since someone bumped his arm and spilled his beer in the village. Refuses to go back to the square without an apology. Bloody hell, Denis, men are dying on the roads and you are weeping over a penny's worth of weak ale.
It was good ale, and it is a matter of pride. A man ought to look where he walks.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Terce
A foul winter. We found a merchant wagon burnt to ash on the forest road, then got jumped by Cuman stragglers. Barely made it back to the barracks with our skins. Otto took an arrow. The Lord rest him. I lost a good dagger in the mud, too.
A dagger, was it? Funny how heavy a dagger can be. I reckon you found something else in the mud.
Poor Otto. Up in heaven there will be no Cumans to shoot at him.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quietly and asked me to write that the mud was very deep.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Nobody wants your moldy tunic, Jezhek. But we both know what else is heavy in that bag.
Keep your mouth shut, Walter. I told you I dropped it in the mud.