mercenary company hired hand, of On the roads
“I scrub rust off mail and wait for pennies that never come. Better than starving, but only just.”
Things Denis had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Leonard tells me to be patient. I rub my neck and think of the noose. A man can only wait so long for his cut of what we found before he starts thinking the other man means to keep it all.
Nota scribaeHe picked at his palms the whole time he spoke, leaving blood on the table.
the third day of Easter week, at None
If Frantishek asks me one more time to carry word to his family, I swear I will throw a bucket of sand at him. I am not going that way. I am not going anywhere. Leave me be.
It is just a little way off your path when you fetch the supplies. My mother would bless you for it.
Leave the boy alone, Frantishek. He has enough gambesons to patch without walking your errands.
the feast of St Benedict, at Prime
Edward is still shouting about what happened on the road last month. I could not have stopped it if I tried. I am just a hired hand, not a bloody knight. Let it rest before the captain hears of it.
You were supposed to be watching the flank, you whoreson. Now we are both in the shit.
Both of you shut your mouths before we all get a whipping.
Nota scribaeThe speaker looked over his shoulder twice to see if any soldiers were listening.
the Monday after St Valentine, at Sext
Anthony showed me the right way to oil a scabbard today and even gave me a cup of ale. A good man. The rest just shout when they need a horse walked or their gear repaired.
A dry blade is a dead man's blade, lad. Keep your head down and learn.
Less talking, Denis, and fetch the water for the horses.
Candlemas, at Compline
Scrubbing rust from mail with freezing sand. My hands are nothing but calluses. At least the fire is warm, even if these dead man's boots pinch my toes.
Be glad you have boots at all in this frost, lad.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your bloody voice down, lad. I told you, the time is not right to take it to market.
Then give me my half of the weight and I will hide it myself.