soldier at the fortress, of Nebakov fortress
“I am a soldier, which is better than turning dirt on a farm. We are just waiting on the captain to pay us what we are owed.”
Things Geoffrey had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
My boots are nothing but holes and mud. Captain Ulrich has not paid us a single groschen since Candlemas, and my toes are near freezing off on the night watch. If anyone has a patch of leather, I'll owe you.
Nota scribaeHe spent a long time looking at his feet while saying this.
the Tuesday after Easter week, at Prime
The older men made me haul the firewood again this morning. God's nails, my back is sore. And Klara the ale-wife says she'll go to the captain if we don't pay the forty groschen we owe for winter beer.
Keep your voice down about the captain, you fool. Do you want the strap?
the Thursday before Easter, at None
Roger will not stop glaring at me across the pottage pot. I swear by Saint George, I did nothing wrong. It was pitch black in that sheep barn at Vidlak ponds, and Adam ordered us to scatter. A man cannot see who is awake and who is asleep in such panic.
You left the boy to die in the mud to save your own skin. I will not forget.
I gave an order to save the patrol. The Hungarians were upon us.
Nota scribaeDictated quickly, while the man kept looking over his shoulder.
the feast of Saint Gregory, at Sext
Pacing the outer walls in this freezing rain is a misery. At least it is better than turning dirt on a farm. A soldier has his pride, even if his belly is empty of warm pottage.
Your pride will not keep you warm, lad. Come stand by the hearth when your watch is done.
the second day after Saint Matthias, at Compline
We lost Stislav near the Vidlak ponds. The Hungarians came in the night and we ran into the trees. I woke up terrified and just ran. God rest the boy, but it was not my fault he did not wake. Adam should have kept a cool head.
If Adam had not ordered us into that barn, none of this would have happened.
Nota scribaeThe man mumbled so badly I had to ask him to repeat it thrice.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I have a scrap of hide, but you will have to mend it yourself.