lumberjack at the timber works, of The woodcutters' camps
“I work the heavy timber for the castle. I am older than the brats in this camp, and it falls to me to teach them some sense while they waste silver on ale.”
Things Nicholas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at None
Julian is a selfish brat. I asked him again to carry word to my Svatava when he goes to market, to tell her I am not dead in this mud. He makes endless excuses and will not walk the three days. A young man should help his elders.
Nota scribaeDictated while leaning heavily on a stump. He stopped twice to catch his wheezing breath.
the eve of Saint Philip and Saint James, at Vespers
Julian is shouting about his fine carpenter's axe. I took it on Saint George's day, ay, but what choice had I? Bailiff Chenyek wants two pennies a day for the lord's tools. I must have a tool to survive. When Roger gives mine back, Julian gets his.
You know what I am waiting for, old man. Settle the other matter from last year's skirmish first.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Roger borrowed my work axe and flatly refuses to hand it back. Without it, my tally falls short. He is a stubborn fool who will get us both killed with his impatience over things best left hidden. A man must have his tool.
You are driving the whole camp mad with this bickering over an axe.
Nota scribaeThe man was rubbing his lower back the entire time he spoke.
the second Wednesday of Lent, at Compline
Adam and Roger are tormenting Tuma again about poor Mikesh falling in the skirmish last year. They shout and shout by the fire. Young fools, the lot of them. They ought to leave the dead in peace and let a man sleep.
Mikesh was our brother in the woods. We will not forget him just because your bones are tired.
Candlemas, at Prime
Woke before dawn with my joints stiff as oak. The rain came right through the roof of this miserable shed. I resent giving the widow Juliana a whole groschen a week for a bed that cannot even keep the damp out of my spine.
She leaves us alone, at least. That is worth a groschen to me.
Nota scribaeThe word he used for the widow was struck out.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I am losing work because you took my fine axe, Nicholas. I am not walking three days for a man who pays nothing.
I only took it to survive the tally. Blame Roger.