housekeeper at the zemlianky, of Pritoky
“I oversee the provisions, the tools, and the hired hands here. A yard without discipline is just a camp of vagrants, and I ensure this one does not fall into ruin.”
Things Denise had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
The Wednesday before Whitsun, at Compline
I counted the groschen in my pouch three times upon the table tonight. Three pennies are missing. I know a man cannot chop wood well on thin porridge, but a household must buy grain before it pays wages. I will say nothing yet. I will watch, and I will wait for a hand to slip.
Nota scribaeShe stood perfectly still while dictating this, her hands clasped tightly at her waist.
The feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate, at None
I look through the fence at Philip Newman's yard and I despair. Julian leans on his axe, Nicholas shouts for his due, and young Thomas cowers. Jacob spoiled Philip. If I let my men behave as his woodcutters do, the zemlianky would be torn apart by nightfall.
My father left me empty ledgers, Denise. It is hard to command men when the chest is bare.
We would not shout if the young master paid us what we are owed!
The third day of Easter week, at Prime
The flour merchants are demanding silver, and the strongbox is light this spring. I have told Adam and Krizhan that the provisions for the house must be bought first. Adam swings his axe with a nervous energy today. He will simply have to wait. Discipline is what holds a village together.
I have waited since before the fast. A nervous energy is all I have left to run on.
Aye, my belly was rumbling through all of Mass.
Nota scribaeDictated in the yard. She checked her tally stick twice during the telling.
The Monday after Saint Gregory, at Sext
I bought my daily loaves from Simon Carter this morning. He is skilled with the ovens, I grant him that, but it is disgraceful for a master baker to borrow a woman's ash-wood peel and refuse to return it to Adleta. A proper household returns what it borrows.
I am only keeping it safe for her. Besides, the bread tastes better for it.
People in this lane take what they please. George took his cart straight into my turnips.
The morrow of Candlemas, at Terce
The frost is thick on the earthen houses this morning. I was at the hearth blowing the embers to a flame before the men stirred. I measured the oats exactly. Lefty asked for a second bowl, but the tally stick allows for one. I must make sure this yard survives the cold.
It was only a small scrape of the pot I asked for, mistress.
Better one bowl of warm oats here than freezing on the road with the soldiers.
Nota scribaeThe hound at her feet growled at me the entire time I wrote.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
A man cannot eat grain if he has no coin to buy it, Denise. The axe gets heavy.
The axe gets heavier when a man has nowhere to sleep, Adam.