guard at the lower bailey, of Trosky
“I stand the watches and keep the gates shut. I do my work, take my pay and keep order when others lose their heads.”
Things Alan had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Whitsun, at Vespers
I saw Julian slipping a good carving knife from the mess into his tunic. He thinks Edward the clerk will take it to keep him off the new levy list. A man who buys his way out of duty is no man at all.
Nota scribaeHe tapped his belt the entire time he spoke.
the third day of Easter week, at None
The carters are too slow at the timber doors today. I stood there all midday waiting for them to clear the mud from their wheels. The younger men treat the watch as a game, but a slow gate gets men killed.
The mud is deep this spring, Alan. Give them a moment's grace.
the feast of the Annunciation, at Prime
Jan has been glaring at me across the bailey again. He thinks he is owed a share of what I carry in my pouch from that ruined chapel three winters ago. I dug it out of the dirt myself. He earned nothing.
We took shelter together. Half its worth is mine by right, you stubborn mule.
You sat by the fire while I searched the rubble. It stays in my pouch.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quietly, checking to see who was listening.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Sext
William has pawned his good winter cloak to Anna down in the cellar to pay for his ale. Now he is shivering on the wall. A soldier without his gear is worse than useless.
The wind is not so bad today, Alan. And the ale was very good.
Candlemas, at Compline
David and Havel are at it again in the guardroom, blaming each other for the broken line. They both ran like frightened sheep when the skirmishers came. Poor Martin is dead in the muck, and these two fools will not admit they lacked the stomach for it.
I held my flank until Havel broke his! You saw it, Alan.
My flank was overrun because you stepped back first.
Nota scribaeDictated in the lower barracks while two men shouted in the background.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I only borrowed the blade to cut some tough pork, Alan.
You do not need to lie to me, Julian. Just do not run when the horn sounds.