soldier at the gatehouse, of Trosky
“I am a guard here, waiting for my pay and walking the walls. A soldier does his duty.”
Things Hynek had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second Tuesday of May, at Vespers
Adam is still making excuses about the iron lamp I bought in Kuttenberg. I lent it to him for the night shift, and he passed it to Jezhek. Tuma fines us two groschen if we are caught in the dark. I want my lamp back, unbroken.
Nota scribaeDictated in the yard. He kept his hands fixed tightly near his belt the whole time.
the Friday after Easter, at Terce
We have had no pay since Easter, and the sergeant sits by his warm hearth in the captain's quarters docking our wages for unlit lamps. Nicholas is coughing his lungs out in the gatehouse. We eat boiled cabbage and wait.
the Thursday before Palm Sunday, at Prime
Denis walked away in the night. The fool took his winter cloak and fled. Most of the boys say he just grew tired of the cold, but a soldier who abandons his watch is a coward. Good riddance to him.
He said he was going to Prague. I just hope he tells Vlasta I am well if he passes Kuttenberg.
the day after Saint Matthew's day, at None
Richard is wailing like a child because his tunic was ruined yesterday. Bloody hell, a man is dead under the ice and we have no coin, yet he cries over a piece of cloth. Stop your blubbering and sharpen your sword.
It was good wool, Hynek. You would weep too if you had anything worth keeping.
A soldier needs a straight back and a sharp blade, not fine wool.
Nota scribaeHe spoke sharply and stared at the floor while he said it.
the morning after Candlemas, at Prime
I gave the order to spread out. A patrol leader cannot walk for a man, and he cannot make him step carefully on the ice. If Adam had not dropped the stiff rope in the snow, Prokop would be here. Orders must be given.
You marched us too fast in the dark! You would not let us stop.
I panicked. My hands were frozen. Christ almighty, the rope was too stiff to throw.
It was pitch dark and freezing. Accidents happen, lads. Say a prayer for him.
Nota scribaeHe made me write this down twice. He would not look me in the eye.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I gave it to Jezhek. It is not my fault if he dropped it on the stones.
You handed it to me in the pitch dark. Ask the sergeant for oil if you are so afraid.
Settle down, lads. We will share mine until we are paid.