Master Dagonell, Whitehorn Herald for Western New York region, asked the Gazette to share the following with the populace:

photo by THL Rhiannon

I had the honor last weekend to serve as Royal Herald at Palfreys and Polearms, which was both the Rhydderich Hael’s Champions event and the Royal Equestrian Championship.

Attending an SCA event is like watching a swan floating across a pond. On top, all is peaceful, calm, beautiful, and serene. Under the surface, things are churning like mad to make it that way. Royal Court ran like a well-oiled machine and I owe it all to the many volunteers who worked hard to make it that way.

First, my thanks to Baroness Ekaterina, the current Ice Dragon Herald. The changes to the court docket started a week before the event and ended as we were lining up for court. She took every curveball I tossed and rolled with it. Court went off as though everything had been set it stone from the start. As we processed in, her brag not only beat mine but out-did a number of former Silver Buccles I’ve heard. Whoever is running Heralds and Scribes this fall: make her teach a class on Heraldic Boasting.

A big thank-you also to Baroness Gwendolyn, Jewel Herald, who provided me the docket prior to the event, and helped to coordinate with Baroness Ekat so that everyone was on the same page.

The biggest headache for a herald is getting all the scrolls in one place. My thanks to Baroness Alex and Baroness Juliana, Sylvan and Ice Dragon Signet Clerks respectively, who took over the tasks and gathered all the scrolls and carriers for both courts. I didn’t need to touch a scroll until it came time for them to be signed.

To the artists, scribes, calligraphers, and illuminators who produced all the scrolls for this weekend, I am in awe. I saw so much gorgeous artwork at this event, I was starting to wonder if Their Excellencies were holding the entire Order of the Laurel hostage. 🙂

[An aside to Baron Caleb: I always find a private place before court and read the scroll aloud quietly to myself. This helps me catch any exotic names or unusual turns of phrase that might give me a problem. I caught the horrid pun you inserted in the middle of the scroll documentation hoping I’d read it aloud in court. I’m still trying to decide if I should warn the other heralds about you or stand by quietly and see who you catch the next time. 🙂 ]

My thanks to THL Renata and to m’lady Mina, Baroness Miriel’s young daughter, who took very seriously her job of handing out scroll carriers to protect the lovely scrolls. As each recipient was being cheered, Mina took a carrier from Ren, walked up to stand behind them in court and, when they turned to leave, gave them the carrier and escorted them to Joe the Just (Maestro Giuseppe) to have their picture taken. Speaking of which, His Majesty requested that all scrolls be photographed. Maestro Giuseppe volunteered to photograph each scroll, and each recipient with their scroll, for both royal and baronial courts. Thank you so much.

My second for court was Lady Cigfran, Heronter Herald, my wife of a quarter century and my other right hand. If court functioned like a Swiss watch, it was due to her organization, not mine. She declined to stand in court, but it wouldn’t have happened nearly so smoothly if not for her.

And, while it is not the place of a herald to thank the Royalty he serves, let me just say that His Majesty, King Byron is a joy to work for.

Finally, my thanks to all the volunteers who made offers to help, either in general or with specific tasks, that I had to turn down because it was already taken care of. We heralds talk about this sort of thing on the Heraldry FB pages and people think we’re BSing them, because everyone “knows” that heralds have to beg for help and end up doing most of work themselves. I’m proud to live in Æthelmearc, a shining jewel in the SCA.