maidservant in Zhelejov, of Zhelejov
“I scrub the stones at the third house and keep my mouth shut. A broken back leaves little else.”
Things Emma had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at Compline
That gutless whoreson from the camp sent word offering fifty groschen again. Fifty. I told the messenger to tell him the price is two hundred, and I want to hear him say why he owes it. Until then, he can march off to the war for all I care.
Nota scribaeShe spoke so low I could barely hear her, and pressed a hand to her back the whole time.
the feast of St Florian, at None
Scrubbed the hearths all morning and my spine feels like a hot iron is driven through it. Three years since I fell, and every day is worse. If I had the coin for the apothecary, I would not be on my knees hauling buckets for Lida.
You work harder than any girl in the district, Emma. But do not spill the water on the clean stones again.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
They say the bailiff's clerk is drawing up a new list of men to march against the Hungarians. Good. Let them take every thief and coward in the woods. A man who runs from the watch and leaves his friend to the rope deserves to freeze in a ditch.
Andrew ran to Prague, not me. I just went back to the camp.
You both left my Christopher to die. You are both bastards.
Nota scribaeDictated while sweeping the yard. She spat into the dirt after the last word.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
The well water is freezing my hands to the bone this morning. I hauled four buckets before the sun was fully up. At least the housekeeper pays exactly when she promises, which is more than you can say for most people in this cursed village.
Honest work earns honest groschen. Keep the hearth swept and you will always have your wage.
Candlemas, at Prime
The priest says we must write down our days for the Lord. Christ almighty, the Lord knows my days. He knows my husband was a fool who trusted the wrong men, and he knows they hung him at the crossroads last Martinmas. I have nothing else to say to any priest.
He was a fool for getting caught with the sheep. But he knew how to figure, I will give him that.
Nota scribaeThe woman was exceedingly bitter and refused to speak further.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You mad bitch, Geoffrey is drawing up the levy this week. Give me what Christopher wrote down or neither of us gets a copper.
I will see you hang at the crossroads just like he did, or you bring the two hundred.