Simon

the eve of St George, at Vespers

My left hand is stiff as old iron today. I remember my mother used fresh cabbages to draw out the throb from old broken bones. If anyone goes to the village, I badly need three cabbages, but I dare not leave the woods myself lest Drslav see me gone.

• 
  Gilbert

  Nobody is walking to the village. We have timber to cut.

Nota scribaeDictated in a low mumble. He kept his left hand tucked tightly into his belt.

the third day of Easter week, at Compline

Havel and Osbert are tearing the shack apart shouting over a rusty axe. Havel says it was stolen, and Osbert says it was fairly borrowed. I just wish they would be quiet so a man could sleep. My head rings with it.

• 
  Havel

  That whoreson took it from my leaning pile while I was cutting!

• 
  Osbert

  I borrowed it for doing double the cutting. Hold your tongue and go to sleep, Havel.

• 
  Simon

  Please, let us just get some rest.

the Feast of the Annunciation, at Sext

Prokop is still away in Jicin and we are eating the very last of the salted fat. I hope he brings good meal when he returns, though we owe him enough groschen to buy a horse. The porridge is thin enough as it is.

• 
  Gilbert

  He will charge us double, same as the bailiff cheated me at the autumn levy. Bloody thieves, the lot of them.

the Tuesday after St Gregory, at None

Drslav rode past the boundary today. I kept my head down and dragged the brush to the pile as fast as I could. A man could freeze on the roads if he loses his place here. I pray he did not look too closely at my cut.

Nota scribaeThe man looked terrified of his own shadow.

St Blaise's Day, at Vespers

A bitter cold morning. My joints throbbed so badly I could scarcely lift my axe. Osbert helped me make my tally, God bless him, and I let him use the rusty backup axe. I am sorry to say it, but I hope Havel does not notice it missing.