guardsman of the Raborsch watch, of Around Raborsch
“I am a royal guard, not a mercenary. I keep my kit clean, my mouth shut, and my coin pouch locked.”
Things Thomas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Captain Tobias has announced the muster. I am only three groschen short of Joan Alder's Milanese breastplate. Once I have it on my chest, the Captain will see I am ready for a sergeant's knot.
Nota scribaeHe spent a long while brushing invisible dust from his sleeve before speaking.
the second day of May, at Prime
Richard is weeping about the muster because his kettle hat is gone. I told him not to leave his chest open with William in the room. A soldier who cannot guard his own kit deserves to have his pay docked.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Stood the gate watch with Jan from Prime to Vespers. We turned away three vagrants claiming to be refugees. The roads are thick with them now, but orders are orders. A clean camp is a safe camp.
My feet are still aching. At least it did not rain.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
John came off patrol shivering again, claiming he saw Standa's ghost in the mud. I told the boy to drink less and pray more. Standa took an arrow in the neck and died. That is what soldiers do. No amount of weeping will bring him back.
Robert left his flank open. Standa did not have to die in that freezing mud.
Hold your tongue, John. We were overrun by Hungarians.
Nota scribaeDictated in the yard while the man carefully oiled his leather jack.
Candlemas, at Sext
The priest says we must write our days down for the Lord. The Lord sees my locked chest and my polished boots. I counted my savings after mass today. It has been a year of hoarding pennies, but discipline pays.
Nota scribaeThis took until Compline, as he spoke very slowly and weighed every word.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I need the silver for the bailiff by Sunday, Thomas. If you cannot find three groschen, another man will.
Hold it for me, Joan. You know my coin is good.