guard at the Rathaus, of Miskowitz
“I stand by the rathaus doors and keep my eyes open. A man has to be sharp these days, with all the trouble on the roads.”
Things Hynek had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday after St George, at Vespers
By Saint Peter, the rats in the loft are getting bolder. One ran right over my boot this morning. I told Julian we should get a terrier, but he just laughed. At least the rats don't carry Hungarian swords.
Nota scribaeDictated while scratching his face. He spoke very quickly.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Lawrence keeps looking at me across the yard. He thinks he is owed something for just standing there while I did the work. I found it in the muck, I picked it up, and I am keeping it. Holy Mother, a man can't even have a bit of luck without someone wanting half.
the fourth week of Lent, at Terce
Poor Denis is gone. Lung fever took him. I try not to think on it, but it is hard when his empty cot is right there. He was weak, that's all. A guard has to be strong to survive the rain and the cold. God rest his soul.
He wasn't weak, you fool. He was left in the freezing rain by the Captain. It could have been any of us.
We all stood in the same rain, Zdenyek. The Lord calls who He will.
Nota scribaeHe crossed himself three times while saying this.
the third week of Lent, at Prime
Robert is still cursing me for the fine. Two groschen gone from all our wages because Bynyek ran off to Prague. By Saint Wenceslas, how is it my fault? I only told the boy the truth about the Hungarians in the dark. If he was too cowardly to stay, that is on him.
the second week of Lent, at Compline
Three days in a flooded ditch near Suchdol guarding Christopher's stuck wagons. I have never been so cold. Every snapped twig in the dark sounded like a Hungarian coming to slit our throats. I gripped my halberd so hard my hands are still cramped. Praise be we are back in Miskowitz.
It was miserable work, aye. But Christopher didn't notice everything that fell out of those wagons in the mud.
You are paid to stand in the mud, Hynek. Stop complaining and watch the doors.
Nota scribaeDictated at the rathaus doors. He kept looking over his shoulder.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
A terrier would eat more than you do, lad. Just sleep with your mouth shut.
I'll lend you my heavy boot if you want to smash them, Hynek. Don't let them keep you awake.