soldier at Nebakov fortress, of Nebakov fortress
“I keep my gear clean and do what I am told. I am a realist, not a hero, and I have no patience for fools.”
Things Julian had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Another cart of rotten cabbage today. I told the carter to take it back down the hill or eat it himself. If the Hungarians come, the smell alone will kill them before they reach the palisade. At least Richard gave me extra carrots for fetching him dry wood.
Nota scribaeDictated at the lower gate. The man kept his arms firmly crossed the entire time.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Prokop still has not got Zdenyek's kettle hat back from Bozhena. The woman went to Jicin with the baggage train, and now the fool is walking around the walls with a bare head. He will catch a Hungarian arrow before May.
It was a bad throw of the dice, Julian. Mind your own watch.
the Friday before Palm Sunday, at Terce
Frantishek is still telling everyone he held the line at the Apollonia rocks. I was there. He broke like a frightened sheep before the first Hungarian even drew a blade. That panic is why we lost Denis in the dark.
I went to secure the path! You were the one running blindly into the trees.
He took the only lantern. How was I to wake the old man in pitch black?
You saved your own skin, Joseph. Admit it and be damned.
Nota scribaeHe spoke in a very flat voice and stared straight ahead.
the feast of Saint Matthias, at Prime
Standa asked me if I think Denis is looking down on us from heaven. I told the lad the dead do not look anywhere. They rot in the dirt. Keep your spear sharp and do your duty, and you will not join him so soon.
It is only right to pray for his soul, Julian. He was an old man and we left him.
Candlemas, at Sext
Joseph is spreading lies about Martinmas again. He says I took the lantern. He was the one supposed to wake Denis, not me. He left the old man to die in the cellar, and now he points his finger at me to hide his own bloody cowardice.
You left us all in the dark! You ran just like the rest of us when the Hungarians came.
Nota scribaeThe man was extremely angry and refused to lower his voice.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Send the good heads to me. I will make a decent pottage out of them yet.