merchant at the guardhouse, of Around Raborsch
“I sell what these miserable boys in the guardhouse need to stay alive. Spices, iron, and a bit of sense, though they never listen to the last.”
Things Joan Alder had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at None
Thomas stood staring at the Milanese breastplate on my stand again today. It is thirty groschen, Thomas, and not a single penny less. Captain Tobias will not promote a man who cannot pull his purse strings open. Buy it, so we may both have what we want.
Nota scribaeShe asked me to draw a heavy line beneath the number thirty.
the Tuesday after Easter, at Vespers
If a man finds his spare kettle hat missing, he should look to the pawnbroker in the lower town. And then he should ask William how he paid his ale debt yesterday. I watch the yard, and I miss nothing.
I knew it! The captain will have my pay at the muster. You thieving rat, William!
Your eyes are failing you, Joan. It was my own hat.
My ledger is spotless and so are my eyes. You belong in the silver mines.
the third week of Lent, at Terce
More Hungarian mercenaries on the roads today. I locked the heavy shutters early. A woman alone with a lockbox of silver must be careful. I suppose I should be glad of the watchmen stumbling about the yard, though they smell of sour wine.
We keep the yard safe for you, Joan, even if you do water down the ale.
the Monday after Saint Matthias, at Prime
Another boy asking for credit this morning. I simply pointed to the ledger. If I gave away my spices and daggers on promises, I would never have the lease for this stall, and the bailiff would toss me in the mud.
Nota scribaeDictated while counting a pile of pennies. She made me wait until she was entirely finished.
Candlemas, at Sext
The bailiff has finally named his price for the permanent freehold of my stall space. It is my one great ambition to be free of his rent increases. I need just thirty more groschen. I will hoard every penny until the lease is safely in my hands.
It is wise to save, Joan. A saved groschen is a groschen earned.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I will have the silver by Saint John's Day, Joan. Keep it on the stand.