[Bordermarch] Lord Jaques Francois Le Noir

[Lathrop, Dave]

I speak now of our good friend Lord Jaques Francois Le Noir,

It mattered little whether I was squeezing the tomatoes and checking them for residual pesticides, or that HE Elisabeth was sniffing the Pogie fish for freshness, Lord Jaques was always able to track us down and find us whenever we were visiting Walmart.
We would catch the other shoppers glancing our way when Lord Jaques approached us with his gentle smile, a slight bow, and a loud heartfelt, "Good day Your Excellencies!"
Five or six years ago, someone greeting us like Lord Jaques did in the middle of Walmart might have caught us off guard, but our short time in the SCA has taught us that Lord Jaques's actions are the norm for SCAers.
As I recollect our many conversations throughout the years with Lord Jaques I suddenly realize that he never even once brought into our mist a negative word about anyone or anything! His positive outlook and attitude was the solid foundation on which he built his reputation within the SCA and the mundane world.
Lord Jaques truly loved his Bordermarch family and everything about the SCA.  He would often transport his fellow Morning Glory Household members to the Bordermarch fighter practices to enjoy the camaraderie with the other rapier fighters. His quest on the rapier field was not one of self indulgence, but one of constant learning and improvement. He would offer up to newcomers all his hard-gained knowledge about the martial art of rapier fighting with no expectations of recompense.

It was a few years back when HE Elisabeth and I stood huddled at day's end looking out from our canvas fortress at a stranger fully engaged in the cold blowing rain that seems to frequent Bordermarch's Autumn Melees on a regular basis.
The earlier day found us transported to a place that was filled with the joys and sorrows that hard fought battles bring. The Kingdom's artisans had displayed their finest wares for all to see, and the Bards had woven tales of wonder and enchantment. We had been fortuitous during the day and had not suffered the wrath of the rain gods, but when what little light there was left to the day did finally begin to fade, the heavy burden the clouds had been bearing all day could be tolerated no longer!
Through the rain and fading light we watched as the stranger's path destined his journey to cross directly in front of HE Elisabeth and me. With his shoulders hunched tight and head bent into the rain, the stranger's fervent pace indicated intent and purpose to be somewhere, anywhere!, other than where he was at the moment.
Just as he was about to travel past our watching eyes, this stranger came to a standstill in front of us; standing tall and straight he turned to face HE Elisabeth and me!
We watched in wonder as he threw back his scarlet cape to reveal a rapier blade in one hand and his hat in the other.
He proceeded to lift the blade to his eyes and with perfect form, salute HE Elisabeth and bow to the two of us.
When he said, "Good day Your Excellencies", we noticed that Lord Jaques Francois Le Noir's eyes were sparkling and his rain soaked face was lit with a smile from ear to ear.

I never did found out where Lord Jaques was headed to on that rainy evening, but I know that for our friend Lord Jaques Francois Le Noir the thrill will always be in the journey!

Santiago and Elisabeth
  Baron and Baroness
                of
       Bordermarch