Book Four: The Trap — 10.

Arthur orders Stuart “Svangur” Finger to drop his club as Colin studies a fresco revealing the caves were a plague crypt and former monastic retreat. Finger mocks faith while Arthur frames suffering as part of humanity, and the trio presses into narrower, frescoed tunnels.

In a spider-painted passage, Colin’s pain and unease crest as the painted spiders animate, webbing Arthur and Colin. Finger, now more troll-like, watches in glee, revealing his intent to let the caves devour them.

Arthur frees one hand, lifts the Surrealist’s Glass, and prays at a faded candle image, peeling it from the wall as a real, burning taper. He scorches a burrowing spider but drops the candle as webs pin his arm. Colin, choking on spiders, forces himself to “believe” a candle into reality and sears through the webs, kicking Arthur’s taper back to him. Together, back-to-back, they burn the spiders until the swarm flattens back into paintings.

With the attack ended, Finger’s excitement fades. Colin suggests petrifying him, but Arthur notes they don’t know the route out; killing or stoning Finger would trap them. They keep Finger alive—resentfully—accepting he remains their only guide toward the hoard and escape.