maidservant at the tavern, of Old Kutna
“I scrub the floors, I haul the water, and I clean up after every drunken miner in Old Kutna. Keep out of my way when I have the broom and we'll get along fine.”
Things Edith had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of St George, at None
Frantishek is on his hands and knees again, looking for that piece of wood. I told him Lida is in heaven and doesn't care about a carved bird, but he won't hear it. I have to sweep around him while he weeps at the floorboards.
Nota scribaeDictated while she wrung out a cloth. She threatened to wring my neck if I did not hurry.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Fourteen groschen. That's what some people have to hide, while others have cracked cups. If I had fourteen groschen, I wouldn't leave it in a straw tick for me to thump every morning.
Keep your voice down, Edith! The miners will hear.
They don't listen to me. I'm just the broom.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Richard spat on my clean floor again. He's mad at his neighbour, but it's me who has to fetch the bucket. The next time he does it, he'll be wearing the water.
I didn't spit at you, woman. I spat at the thought of him.
If you hit a paying customer with a bucket, you can sleep outside.
the first week of Lent, at Vespers
Barbara is weeping again. She wants me to walk all the way to Caslau to tell her mother Anna that she's well. Caslau! The roads are full of soldiers and hungry men, and I have floors to scrub. Walk to Caslau yourself.
I can't go, Edith, Helga needs me at the taps! Please, you're strong, the soldiers wouldn't bother you.
A soldier will take a strong woman as fast as a weak one, you fool.
Nota scribaeThe bartender was indeed weeping during the dictation.
Candlemas, at dawn
The mud today is thicker than the ale. If Maresh hadn't run off to Prague, maybe he'd fix the leaks in the sheds, but no, the men track the slop right into my common room. Bloody hell.
It's the boots, Edith. We can't help it.
You could wipe them on the grass before you cross my threshold.
Nota scribaeShe used the word 'kurva', which I have omitted for decency.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It was her favourite, Edith. I know it fell just by the hearth.
If it fell by the hearth, the fire had it months ago. Get up.
Let the dead rest, lad. It's past time.