Ink Spatters

Pennsic was a blast. No, not just because of my apprenticing to Master Jonathan Blaecstan, after many many months of sitting on that happy secret to surprise folks, nor was it a blast because of running around as King's Champion of A&S, or even because of being part of running this year's Known World Scribal Gathering. It was all the little things that made this War so big. Moments spent with Ryan were precious as always, and all of the details of this particular Pennsic could take days on end to record.

Right now, however, I would like to address the matter of a package that showed up on my doorstep after a long day at work. At first, I had thought that my eBay account had been broken into, since the box was marked with a return address of RealLeather, in KY. Opened it up... a note on purple paper inside, addressed to Lady Kayleigh McWhyte. It read as follows:

"Lady Kayleigh McWhyte,

Thank you for the beautiful work that you so speedily readied for us. You are truly diserving of the title The King's Champion.

As we treasure these scrolls & the event, I can only say I am sorry that I was not at the Great Event. My Lady, you serve your Great King well and make him Proud. It is with My Husband and I's great pleasure to present this token of our great appreciation for we'll Hail this as a lasting token of forever a great (Ali?) and Friendship.

Yours In Service,

Lady Lisa of Leatherwood"

Enclosed in the package was a fine traveler's writing kit (The Art of Writing), and an amethyst chip necklace. WOW. I know these two gentles have not received their AoAs out in Midrealm in the 17 years they have been in the SCA, as His Majesty Kelson explained to me before gently asking me if I would like to do this favor for him and complete those scrolls within a day and a half, and was simply gladdened to know their awards were well-received when the word came back to me later on Monday night, through My King's appreciation. As I explained to him, I would not have done it if I did not enjoy my work. And by the same measure, I was happy to see that my students, the illuminators Lady Chiara di Niccola (work shown above) and Baronesa Gianetta Lucia the Quick, have their work recognized through use for these long-deserved Awards of Arms.

I will be sharing the writing set with both ladies at a time when we are all next together, and the necklace I would like to keep for my own, to treasure with the memory of helping warm two Midrealmer's hearts with the words and calligraphy contained on their scrolls. Thank you as well, to Mistress Michel and Baron Ernst, for helping make sure proper recognition will be given to Chiara, Gianetta, and myself. I hope, above everything, that these scrolls will remain on the Leatherwoods' walls for a long, long time. :)

Thank *you*, Lisa and Thokdar! *hugs!!!*

--Lady Kayleigh McWhyte, EK King's Champ of A&S, AS 39 (2004)

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