maidservant at the bathhouse, of Suchdol
“I fetch water for the tubs and scrub the dirty linen. I try to stay out of the soldiers' way and keep my head down.”
Things Alice had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the feast of St Mark, at Vespers
I hid behind the woodshed when the soldiers came down the road. They were loud and laughing, and I smelled the smoke on them. I stayed there until my feet were numb. Later I found a dropped turnip near Alice Tanner's kitchen and ate it raw in the dark.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
I only asked Juliana if she would walk just a few days past Kolin to find the Nebakov mill and tell Vitek I am alive. She shouted at me and threatened to box my ears. I do not understand why it is so far. I have nobody else.
Christ almighty, Alice! I told you, Kolin is far enough, and I am not walking into the wilderness for a brother who is likely dead!
He is not dead. He went to work the mill before the fire. He is not dead.
Nota scribaeThe girl wept onto the page and made the ink run. I told her to wring her sleeves elsewhere.
the first week of Lent, at Terce
Mistress Edith stood watching me scrub the heavily stained tunics. My hands are cracked and bleeding from the sharp lye, but I scrubbed twice as hard. If I drop the soap she will turn me out onto the muddy road, and I cannot freeze again.
Soap costs groschen, girl. I gave you a roof when you were shivering like a stray. Do the work.
Keep your head down, Alice. The lye bites everyone's hands at first.
St Matthias's day, at Prime
My shoulders ache from hauling the heavy iron pots. Sometimes when I wake up coughing, I still smell the thatch burning and hear the beams coming down on my mother. I pray to God to take the smell from my nose.
It was a bitter winter for many. Say a prayer for them and keep hauling.
Candlemas, at Sext
I am still alive. The Cumans took everything, but I hid in the damp root cellar. I pray someone going north will tell my brother Vitek that I am here in Suchdol, drawing water at the baths. Please, if anyone sees him.
I am here, little sister. The miller kept me late.
Nota scribaeShe spoke so softly I had to ask her to repeat herself three times.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
If you are hungry, lass, just ask. Though the bailiff is watching every crumb I have lately.