"Hark! The trumpeters arise
Their sound, harbinger of the Hunter
Shut window, door, jar, bottle, and eyes
Lock all things up till silence come"

- First stanza of "The Hunt", a bardic tale

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The carriage stopped outside the main building of the Kannenborg estates. Laurits was offered a hand in getting down from the compartment but didn't take it. The servant was visibly offended by this, as it was a small faux pas of the customs regarding these types of dinner parties. Laurits did notice this, but when he did, it was too late to not make it an awkward affair; his own carriage had left and the servant was helping down the next guests.

Laurits approached the servants in the threshold of the entryway.

"And whom are You presenting?" One of them asked.

"I'll be presenting myself; Laurits Gantana, COS of Meneades," Laurits said.

"And by whom are You represented?"

"I'm represented by their Lordship, André Kannenborg, first son of the Kannenborg Protectorate."

"Very well, enjoy your evening Os Gantana."

Laurits thanked them and hurried inside. Everything was incredibly formal. He didn't mind it. In fact, he quite enjoyed it all, but it was just such an unfamiliar world to him, that he never really was sure how to act or speak or just present himself. He was ushered into the main living room where most of the Kannenborg family resided. Though the guest list was clearly comprised of the upper-upper classes, none really seemed to mind him there. He was met with friendliness and some even knew of him. But none of them knew him personally. The closest he got was the Lady Tribeille, who had a niece living in Meneades, who had gotten help from the OS a couple of times for minor things. Laurits wasn't even sure he knew the specific cases, but he had heard the other Onseers talk about her from time to time. She must have been a troubled soul of some sort. Lucky for her, apparently, that Meneades was a fairly quiet town.

"Oh! Laurits, you're here!" said Mrs. Kanneborg.

"Yes, Your Grace. I thank You for the invitation" Said Laurits and did a bow. He only hoped it didn't look too stiff. He hoped that he was meant to bow. He heard a giggle somewhere, maybe.

"No need to thank me, it was by André's request that we invite you - I mean, you know that you're always welcom-"

"That is, quite enough, Mother," said André. He looked at Laurits, "Though I am very glad that you decided to come. Not a busy night for the OS then?"

Laurits relaxed his shoulders a bit. He wasn't even aware until now that he had been tense.

"Nah, not really. Meneades doesn't have any Protectors, so we don't have much work to do tonight."

"Oh! You don't? Then what do you usually do around Reignition?" Mrs. Kannenborg interrupted.

"Well, sometimes I go to visit my family in Onkolla, but other times I just, well, stay at home" Laurits gave a nervous laugh. He found it a bit embarrassing to admit that he didn't really think much of Reignition. It was especially awkward to admit in front of a Protectorate. Their whole deal was Reignition after all, so. Yeah.

"Where's Sylver anyways? André mentioned in his letters that he was supposed to do the, uh, the- that.. thing?" Laurits stammered. André and his mother laughed lightheartedly.

"The Litation, yes." said André, "And I'm sure he's running around somewhere. His niece, Cecilie, and her family came to visit."

"Oh! Well, that's nice! Though, that's not very common is it?" Laurits asked. André made a grimace like he was unsure? Both? Kinda-sorta?

"I mean, it isn't very common, no, but we and the Figlesborg family have just always been pretty close so for them and us it isn't nearly as uncommon? I guess?"

"Figlesborg? Isn't that like-"

"Like way, way up north? Yeah, it is." André walked over, closer to Laurits, "Walk and talk?" he asked. Laurits smiled, "Yeah, let's"