guard at the inner gate, of Pritoky
“I stand at the inner gate and watch the wagons. I keep my purse tight and let the others lose their coin at dice.”
Things Standa had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Took another extra watch today in the heat. A merchant came through with a decent roan gelding, asking eighty groschen. I am not far off it now. If I can just keep my head down a few more weeks, I will never hold this heavy halberd again.
Nota scribaeHe patted his belt the whole time he spoke.
the Tuesday after St George, at None
Andrew and Maurice are still fighting over that tin pitcher. Anyone who lends his gear to another man in this garrison deserves to lose it. I told them both to buy a wooden bowl and shut their mouths.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Raining again. The new recruits are complaining about the damp straw, and the old fools are losing their Easter pay behind the stables. I stayed dry at the gate and earned two pennies taking a shift for Vashek, who drank himself blind.
My head is still splitting, Christ almighty. Thank you for the watch.
Nota scribaeHe asked to have the part about Vashek struck out, then decided to leave it.
the feast of St Gertrude, at Sext
A carter from Kuttenberg came through the gate swearing he saw the ghost of a miner on the road, covered in silver dust. Bloody nonsense. The only thing on that road is mud and Hungarian stragglers looking to slit a throat for a loaf of bread.
There are ghosts enough. Vitek should be walking the battlements right now, not rotting in the dirt.
the eve of Candlemas, at Terce
Freezing cold out here today. My fingers are stiff on the halberd. The wind reminds me of the ditches we slept in last summer. I swore then I would not die a poor foot soldier in the mud, and by God I meant it.
Less thinking, more watching the road, lad. The cold keeps you awake.
Nota scribaeDictated in the guardroom while he blew on his hands.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep quiet about it, lad, or Captain Bright will find a reason to fine you fifty.
A horse won't stop a Cuman arrow, Standa. Just ask poor Lawrence.