#earthrunes

August does -not- peer in to look.

"They have the same birthday" He blinks

Coradel's expression should tell August enough. "Oh, my." She looks at him. "You have a doppelganger, it seems."

"His hair's a different shade.. and August .. August, is it possible you have a brother that was sent off for adoption?"

Then he remembers his manners "Pardon me, BARON August"

"Not a true doppelganger, I think," she amends in a murmur.

"I can't imagine August's parents would need to send a child off for adoption. They are nearly as well-off as mine."

"Although, perhaps, they were better parents." He murmurs. "This is a detail I'd intended to mention but events.... ah, were in motion."

A smile at August's first comment. She certainly allows him that.

"Puzzling. And suspect. I mean...doesn't it seem that somebody would put a person in your way that you were likely to trust, and that you trust tend to trust those who are like yourself?"

"Is there someone else we should consult on this? This sort of thing is more... is the word esoteric? Than computers"

"I agree. We should ask our Seer. But thank you, Lord Hume, for getting us this far."

"Yes indeed, Lord Hume. Very helpful, excellent work."

"You're welcome, Lord, lady" A blink at things "Yeah, creepy"

Coradel nods, then takes August's hand as the depart to speak with Almandine.

Almandine's office is closed as usual. Eiluned are annoying like that

So are Dougals. And she announces their arrival with the same quick knock she gave Hume's door.

"I wasn't hiding Weatherly from you, I intended to mention the similarities. Which he seemed thrown by as well."

"Enter " A brisk voice, touch distracted

"I do not believe he was aware of them before we met, as he might be if he were planted in this situation."

"Oh, I don't doubt it, August!" she says with a smile. She looks like she's about to say something else, but then the seer answers, and she pushes the door open and glides in, still holding August's hand. "Seer, we need a moment."

"Oh?" He is working over notes, but puts them to the side "Well, I am here to serve. How can I assist, my liege?"

"We have encountered a curious situation. August, do you want to tell him?"

August does indeed related the curious series of similarities, factually.

"It seems suspicious to me," Coradel says after he's done. "What do you think?"

"It's possible this is a plot, the Eiluned in me certainly is intrigued," A thought "But there's also another possibity, the twin stranger, a doppleganger.. that's meant to be. Something in the Wyrd and the weaving of D'an""

"That's......."

Coradel looks puzzled. "And actual doppelganger? Not...some kind of intentional trick?"

"It's been known to happen, sometimes fate uses it as a lure to show how important something is to the hero. A fetch, for example, is usually a warning your life is in immediate risk. Other doubles mean different things"

August exhales.

Heavily.

"Is...is that the case here?" Coradel looks concerned abruptly concerned, and she squeezes August's hand.

"Death? No.. A fetch is ghost like.. this fellow is flesh and blood"

August nods agreement reluctantly.

"Then...what are we to make of this?"

(Did the seer also get told of the coma patient, and the tie to Chloe?)

(August would defer to Coradel; how much did she want to say about that?)

(For the sake of brevity, let's say yes.)

"That either this dopple ganger, or her sister, are important in Da'ans eyes. Frankly, she sounds like a brain dead mortal to me so I don't see the worth beyond to her own family, but that's neither here nor there. She or her brother, or both, are important. I suggest she not be left to languish"

"Is there a way to be more sure?"

"If only you had some seer who knew how to do readings or portents .. oh wait..." he inclines his head quickly least Eiluned Snark get him in trouble "I can cast some omens"

"If you would be so obliged," Coradel says, her own snark peeking through a bit.

A flicker of irritation crosses August's face, and is gone; smoothed into blandness.

"We can attend while you proceed," she adds, indicating to the seer that she expects him to go to work immediately.

"Yes, " he looks at the notes he had been working longingly, but does not return to them "Baron, may I have a bit of your spit in this bowl? It's not as stronbg as blood but is also less subject to abuse from me if that helps?"

"Of course. Pardon." he takes the bowl and turns away.

Turning back, the Seer has the sample he needs.

Coradel watches the seer attentively.

"Thank you.. and Baroness, you as well? This seems to involve both of you"

"Oh, of course...." And she adds a spit to the bowl. Somehow she manages to do so without turning away but still seeming demure about it.