"Perhaps you need to speak to the Auspex," Lady Blanchefleur suggests one morning as she clears the breakfast table.
Fakir raises his brow in curiosity, unfamiliar with the term. "Auspex?" Like auspicious?
"Mm. He is an oracle who divines fortunes from watching birds and he taught Prince Siegfried everything he knows about swans. If anyone can figure out the exact nature of Duck's situation, he probably can."
The pair from Gold Crown glance at each other, one sitting at the table and the other sitting on the table. After a moment, Duck gives Fakir a confident nod.
"Where can we find him?" the young man asks.
"All you have to do is follow the river west," the Knight's mother answers. "Believe me when I say you can't miss him. There's no mistaking the congregation of birds. The trip itself only takes the better part of a day."
Fakir mulls over the calculations and comes to the conclusion that they have enough time to at least consult the Auspex before the wedding. He stands with a resolute nod and picks Duck up, placing her in the crook of his arm.
"Then we should be off. Thank you for your hospitality and information."
"Lohengrin-"
Fakir had just turned to leave when Blanchefleur calls the wrong name. He jerks back around but he doesn't lash out at her for the mistake. On the contrary, his lips automatically press together to sound out an M and he nearly bites his tongue to keep from making the same faux pas.
Blanchefleur silently jaws for a moment, her apology refusing to find voice. She gives up shortly after and amends her blunder with, "Please be careful."
"We will," Fakir answers with a brief nod. "We will come back."
"Oh."
Fakir wishes he was as surprised as Duck.
"Can I help you?" the unfortunately familiar-looking boy asks, adjusting his glasses as he surveys the two before him.
"We've come to see the Auspex."
"Again, can I help you?" the boy repeats curtly.
Fakir resists scoffing. "I was expecting someone more experienced."
The boy who is not Autor narrows his eyes and takes out a small notebook. He begins writing before going, "I have been training under the previous Auspex for ten years and I can assure you I'm able to answer any questions you might have."
"Hn. What happened to the previous Auspex?"
"Forced into retirement the way all of us are," he explains with a wave of his quill. "The nature of the work means developing an allergy to the birds we keep. Now, what has brought you here?"
"Qua..." Duck softly sighs.
The Auspex leans just a little closer to her, making Fakir bristle slightly, and murmurs, "Oh. I think I see. There is a lot to you, isn't there?"