guard at the lower wall, of Trosky
“I am the youngest man on the watch, with the sharpest eyes but the worst shifts.”
Things Standa had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the feast of Saint Philip and James, at Vespers
Saint Mark's day has passed and the quartermaster did his inspection. I had my belt knife, polished so bright it hurt to look at. Tobias did not fine me a single penny, though my hands are raw from scrubbing. I sleep with the knife under my shirt now so no one steals it.
Nota scribaeHe fidgeted with his belt the entire time he spoke.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Wenceslas will not stop whining about his sister Svatava. It is Easter, we have a bit of roast meat for once, and all I hear is how much he misses her. I pity the lad, I truly do, but my head aches from the noise. I would rather listen to the wind on the gate.
the Wednesday before Palm Sunday, at None
Bartholomew is running his mouth again about the mud at Tachov. He says I left the flank open. I did not! The line broke when Andrew called the retreat too early. Ulrich bled out in the mud because our brave leaders ran. I was the last to turn, I swear it.
You panicked like a frightened sheep, boy. Do not put your cowardice on my shoulders.
Watch your tongue, pup. The order was given to save what men we could.
Ulrich would be breathing today if you had held the line, you whoreson!
Nota scribaeThe lad stammered so badly on the name Bartholomew that I had to ask him thrice.
the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, at Sext
They gave me the midday shift scrubbing horse muck from the courtyard drains, while the older men sit by the fire. It is freezing, but my eyes are sharp. I saw a hare moving in the brush from fifty paces away at dusk yesterday. Nobody believed me.
Candlemas, at Vespers
The wind on the lower wall cuts straight through my mail. We are supposed to be watching the roads for Hungarians, but it is so dark you could not see a devil if he kissed you. I pray to Saint George the spring comes soon. My boots are frozen solid.
Stop your weeping. When I was your age we stood on the wall naked in the snow.
Just do not drop your spear and run if you hear a twig snap in the dark.
Nota scribaeDictated while jumping from foot to foot to keep warm.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Lucky for you. Tobias took a week's wage from me because Simon won my blade at dice.
A fool and his iron are soon parted, lad. You should have kept it on your belt.