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[Cear Dallben ZOG]

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In the Shadow of Virtue - Lost and Found Part 2
Mark Steelman
13 Apr 2010

Captain Avery stood before Queen Dawn at attention, even though with Lord Francesco
dead he wasn’t technically a member of any militia. Old habits from old identities die hard,
thought Sherry.

A few moments earlier, Captain Avery had entered the chamber and found Queen Dawn and
Dexter the Mage in an animated debate. He didn’t seem to notice Sherry the mouse, with
whom they had also been speaking, because she was under the edge of the sofa by one of the legs.
All three of them had stood as he entered the room; their shame in his presence was palpable.

“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt, your highness. I will come back later.”

“Please come in. We are discussing something that concerns you.” said Dawn, almost apologetically.

“Yes, your highness.” And thus he had sprung to attention.

“At ease, Captain.” Dawn’s usual verve was returning and she smirked. “This isn’t an inspection.”
She extended her hand to him to welcome him. Avery stepped forward, took her hand and bowed
until his forehead touched the back of it. Well, at least he managed not to salute her again, Sherry thought.

The queen blushed at his gallant, if awkward, gesture. “I trust that your accommodations here
at the castle have been acceptable?” she fumbled.

“Yes your highness, it is far above what I am accustomed to.” Avery said with a pleasant smile.
He quickly added, “I meant to refer to when I was living in the barracks of Lord Francesco, of course.”

Wow, thought Sherry, Now I bet Dawn and Dexter wish they were hiding under the sofa…. Avery is truly
a remarkable man to resist bitterness after so much hardship, Sherry thought to herself.

Eight months ago, after a distinguished military career, Avery had been framed by Casca for the
murder of the royal council and thrown in Yew Prison pending execution. Only recently had he
been absolved of the crime and released. It seemed that with all that had happened he had
simply been forgotten. In an obvious attempt to say, “I’m really really really sorry we accidently
left you in prison for eight months for a crime you didn’t commit,” Queen Dawn had made Avery her personal guest at the castle.

Prison has changed him, thought Sherry. He seems more serene now. In earlier times when Sherry’d
seen him in the castle, he was always rushing by, saluting, reporting, listening to new orders,
and rushing off. Since his return from Yew, Avery spent most of his days in the gardens or out by the shore.
He seemed to avoid the more bustling parts of Britain and preferred the grass and the sun and the sea.
Even his clothes were more relaxed; linen shirts and soft leather
boots were his uniform these days.

“One of your charming tales led Sherry to make an important discovery.”
Sherry noted that Dawn was becoming skilled at recovering from awkward social moments. It must come with practice.

Sherry smiled to herself as she recalled the tale that had begun her quest.
Avery certainly can do a spot-on imitation of Ricardo, she mused. Well, I suppose they spent enough time together in prison.

In her mind, Sherry could see Avery hunched over, one eye wide, the other squinted, his fingers waving
near his head to resemble Ricardo’s shaggy and disheveled hair. “Lord British’s Vault is a place of legend
among us thieves! It contains expensive things, things what have the added value of belonging to Lord British
himself! Among its treasures be items such as The Crystal of Duplicity; the very one which Lord British took from Minax
when she infiltrated Trammel…”

Avery turned from Dawn and looked directly at her, “Uh-oh, Sherry, what have you been up to?” His sudden
acknowledgement snapped her out of the daydream and spooked her. Was she so easy to spot? She resisted
the urge to scurry farther under the sofa.

“I found the vault… and the crystal.” said Sherry, holding her ground.

“Surely you are joking.” Avery turned back to Dawn with a quizzical look. “That was just a mad story
from a poor wretch of a man.”

“Mad or no, the crystal exists, and it is here. We’re just trying to decide if we should let the cat out of the
bag.” said Dawn. “And, of course… how to get the bag open.”

Sherry frowned. She had asked Dawn to stop using that expression. It was inconsiderate.

“But there is more,” said Dawn with a look of glee. “Tell him, Dex.”

“Oh, um, ok.” said Dexter, eyeing both Dawn and Avery. “Well, my research suggests that the crystal
Sherry describes matches one owned by Nystul… The Nystul… the one that split Trammel from Felucca
and created a spell over Trammel to protect it…”

“I know who Nystul is, Dexter.” said Avery, nodding.

“The short version, please, Dex.” said Dawn impatiently.

Dexter grimaced but continued, “Well, if my theory is correct, this crystal actually…”

“He thinks he can use it to break the curse and restore Magincia!” blurted Dawn. “We have been trying to
rebuild there for so long I can hardly believe it! Avery, I want you to lead the team to get this done.”

Dexter’s mouth hung open in mid sentence and Avery’s eyes opened wide. “Oh” sputtered Avery.
Then he composed himself and cast his eyes to the floor. “My dear queen, while I am deeply honored
by this offer, I cannot accept. I had actually come to tell you I am leaving…. I think I need time to know
I am free before I can take on the yoke of service again.”

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A short time later, Sherry and the Queen watched Avery leave the palace and walk out the gate.
Sherry felt a tear come to her eye. She had briefly considered going with him. She knew she would miss him
and she always felt better when he was around. She could tell that Dawn felt that way too.