soldier at the castle, of Trosky
“I am a soldier trapped in this bloody bailey, waiting for coin the King has forgotten to send.”
Things Richard had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The Friday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Still no wages. Not a single groschen since Easter. Sergeant Tuma docks us two groschen a week for lamp oil, but we only have one iron lamp between us! I blame the royal treasury. We were supposed to march on the Cumans, not starve in a bailey.
Nota scribaeDictated loudly in the lower bailey. He spat three times during the telling.
The Tuesday after St Mark, at None
If any strong lad wants to knock Walter down, I would look the other way. I lent him my best woollen tunic, the one that cost fifteen groschen, and the whoreson returned it torn at the hem and stained with wine! He claims it was frayed already. Bloody liar.
The second day of Easter week, at Prime
Boiled cabbage and salted pork again. The cook serves us scraps. Poor young Nicholas has a terrible chest cough, and they won't even give the lad a proper piece of meat to build his strength. We are treated worse than the lord's hounds.
I'll be fine, Richard, just need the weather to turn.
Nota scribaeHe crossed his arms tight against his chest the entire time he spoke.
The morrow of St Gregory, at Terce
Denis has vanished in the night. He had the right idea, though he took a good winter cloak with him. The king's war is nothing but freezing on a wall while the captains grow fat. I would walk away myself if I had a penny to my name.
Candlemas, at Compline
A bitter day. Prokop drowned under the ice at Nebakov pond. He owed half of us money, but God rest his soul all the same. Adam was running around with a rope, completely panicked. This whole garrison is cursed.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye, and the captain drinks wine while we chew on gristle.
Complaining won't fill your purse, Richard.