bartender at the Pritoky inn, of Pritoky
“I serve the tables and draw the ale here, friend. A smile keeps the peace better than a scowl when men have had too much beer.”
Things Alice Field had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of the Ascension, at Vespers
The carter Jezhek says he will tie a heavy stone to Gerland's neck and drown him in the river if we do not pay him ten groschen for his dead geese. Cecily is weeping, and I have not a single penny to give. My peacemaking is failing us.
Nota scribaeShe rubbed her thumb over her apron the entire time she spoke, looking at the floor.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Our yard hound Gerland dug his way under the fence and killed two prize geese belonging to Jezhek the carter. Holy Week is ruined. I try to speak softly to everyone, but the lack of silver has turned the women against each other.
Isabel is demanding half the pennies I earn from my mending now. It is not right.
the second Sunday of Lent, at Compline
I am perished with the cold. I had to leave my only good woollen shawl with a broker in Kuttenberg just to buy enough bread for the fasting days. I hope the others do not see my empty purse.
Nota scribaeDictated in a whisper by the hearth, while the others were sleeping.
the Thursday after St Matthias, at None
Sovka remains locked in the upper solar with her iron ledger, but she rules our coin all the same. She has docked our wages for the whole of Lent because of the breakage. I have rubbed the tables until my hands ache.
The landlady sits upstairs while we break our backs hauling water from the well.
St Matthias's day, at Vespers
A bitter brawl broke out in the taproom today between the striking miners and the merchant's hired guards. It was a terrifying mess. Three benches shattered and half a dozen costly glazed pitchers broken to pieces. Saint Barbara preserve us, we will pay for this.
Those whoresons ruined my best sweeping broom. I hope they rot on the road.
Nota scribaeThe alehouse was in ruins when I arrived to take this down.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I will not let him near the dog. Isabel must give me back my comb or help pay the fine.
I am paying for no geese. Tell Jezhek to drown the beast and be done with it.