herdsman by the graves, of The herdsmen's pastures
“I watch the herd by the old graves and ask no trouble of any man. I only wish the dead would stay quiet.”
Things Geoffrey had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
Drslav came to count the calves. Complained about dung on his boots. I told him he should stay in the town if he wants clean feet. Sakra, a tally stick will not keep a wolf off, but my staff will.
Nota scribaeDictated at the hurdle. The man kept looking over his shoulder.
the second day of Rogation week, at Sext
Svatava says the badgers digging by the unmarked graves are not badgers at all, but the restless souls coming to collect what is owed. I have the groschen under the floorboards, I swear it. The roads are just too thick with soldiers.
God does not care about soldiers on the road, Geoffrey. A vow is a vow, and the saints do not forget.
the Tuesday after Saint George, at Prime
A speckled ewe went lame this morning. I looked at her leg and saw no thorn, no stone. It is him. Saint Anthony is twisting her bones because I have not walked south to Sedletz. Christ almighty, what am I to do?
Ay, let me look at her. Might just be hoof rot from the spring mud, not the saints.
Nota scribaeThe herdsman wrung his hands together the entire time.
the feast of the Annunciation, at Terce
I hear there are Cumans on the road to Kuttenberg. Good. Let them stay there. It means I cannot make the pilgrimage, even if I had a mind to. A man cannot leave a beeswax candle at the altar if he is dead in a ditch.
You are making excuses. The devil loves a man who makes excuses.
Candlemas, at None
Twelve winters today since my father Havel died of the ague in this very hut. I walked the boundaries and told the beasts he is in heaven now. It was a cold night and the scratching outside the door kept me awake.
He was a good man, Havel. Showed me how to pull a calf when I was just a boy.
Nota scribaeHe offered me a piece of dark bread, which I declined.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
If you lose one beast to the woods, I will take it from your hide, staff or no staff.