guard at the fortress, of Suchdol
“I am a proper soldier of the garrison. I stand the line in the snow while others talk, and I do my duty.”
Things Standa had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
I will say it again so the priest writes it down. I gave the wooden beads to Isolde the laundress right at the barracks door before she ran to Prague. She took them. I do not have them in my pouch.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quickly and cleared his throat twice before the end of the sentence.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
A man must be careful these days. If a fellow finds something in the snow, it is best kept hidden away from the bailiff. God provides, but the law swings a rope.
You promised me my cut of what we found, you greedy bastard.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
Nothing but stringy salt pork and stale bread again in the mess. The older men put me on the coldest watch on the outer wall, freezing my stones off in the damp.
Stop your whining and eat, lad. The meat is fine.
Aye, keep your head down and chew.
Nota scribaeDictated in the corner of the mess hall.
the Friday before Laetare Sunday, at None
If a man breaks the line in the snow and steps out of formation, he is a fool. I only stepped back because Jarda moved first. It was not my fault the arrow found him.
You left him to die, you coward. He was exposed because you fell back from the line.
Nota scribaeThe man was shaking and threw his hands up defensively when he dictated this.
Candlemas, at Compline
The Hungarian bastards are on the roads and bread is dearer than last year. We keep the fortress safe, but I sleep poorly listening to these men snore and jump at every noise.
Drink some ale and shut your eyes, Standa, or you will be dead on your feet.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You lying whoreson, I lent you that rosary for the freezing watch. You still have it.
I tell you she stole it when the Hungarians came. Leave me be.