June 28, 1220

I have now been here long enough and established enough that I have been assigned servants for lack of a better word. All magi here are entitled to two guards and a personal servant. Despite my being a probationary member that apparently applies to me as well.

The seneschal has assigned me a Constantine woman named Elene as my chambermaid. I am certain that the other magi have different names for their personal servants, but I believe chambermaid will suffice for Elene. Luckily she speaks a modicum of Latin, enough for her to perform her duties and for us to communicate. She normally speaks Greek, as do the majority of the covenfolk here. and those who don’t speak Greek speak Turkic…neither of which I speak as yet, which has helped me to focus on my laboratory. I feel this is to both our detriment.

The two guards assigned by the commander of the guards do not speak Latin, however. The one is a large Greek man named Stefanos, who is quite competent judging by my watching him at arms practice. The other guard, however, is a giant of a woman named Tamar, who is easily the largest human being I have ever seen, who seems to go out of her way to look impressive. She is not quite as good at swordwork as Stefanos, I believe, but I do not believe I will come to any harm under either of their charge.