hired hand, of Pritoky
“I keep my head down and do the heavy lifting. I am just waiting for the day my back finally gives out.”
Things Robert had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Sext
The master sits upstairs sipping good wine while we rot down here. I hauled four sacks of grain to the kitchen today and the soles of my boots have rotted clean through. I am terrified he will see my ragged tunic and turn me out on the muddy road.
Nota scribaeHe stared at the dirt on the floor while he spoke.
the Tuesday after St Mark, at Prime
We look like beggars. With Svatava gone to Sedletz to avoid the soldiers, there is nobody to mend our clothes. We are all foul-tempered trying to wash our own tunics in the yard. I sigh every time I pick up the scrubbing brush.
My tunic is so stiff with mud it could stand up by itself.
the third day of Easter week, at None
My feet are freezing, but there is a bitter slice of comfort in knowing Hugh lost his coin to Geoffrey. He deserves it for being such a miserable bastard over that wooden flute. I may be at the bottom of the pile, but at least I am not Hugh.
the eve of the Annunciation, at Vespers
Andreas poured a cup of cheap rye spirits, but the unpaid debt hangs over us. Walter had to play Ralph to cover what I owe, and Ralph played Andreas. I am the stone dragging everyone down. If Peshek were alive, he would have beaten the greed right out of me.
Peshek would have broken your jaw, lad. Drink up and be quiet.
It is not the spirits dragging us down, it is the empty purses.
Nota scribaeThe dictating took a long time, interrupted by heavy sighs.
the eve of St Gregory, at Compline
We threw Godfrey's old bone dice by a single tallow candle. I saved my month's wages for new boots, but I thought to double my coin against Walter. I lost every groschen. I am ruined. I cannot look Walter in the eye.
Godfrey's dice are cursed, but a debt is a debt. You owe me the coin, Robert.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Be glad you have a roof, Robert. The roads are full of soldiers and hungry men.