Book Four: The Trap — 9.

Arthur, Colin, and Stu Finger trek upstream into moorland, perform Finger’s circling ritual around an ogham stone, and a once-invisible gate appears. Through the Surrealist’s Glass, Colin sees the gate as a pristine alabaster arch and Finger as a grotesque, tusked giant, confirming the supernatural terrain.

They pass through a briar tunnel haunted by eerie cries and reach a boulder with a crawlspace. One by one they squeeze in; Colin’s pack snags, and when he drops he is struck from behind by Finger’s nail-studded club, injuring his knee and back.

Arthur floods the cavern with a high-intensity “sunlight” lamp, forcing Finger to recoil. Finger’s shadow reveals his true troll form, and when he tests the beam, his fingers gray and begin to turn to stone. Arthur asserts control, naming him Svangur the Sly, and threatens to finish the job if Finger resists.

Confronted, Finger rants about his hoard and past crimes. Arthur declares he seeks a specific prize: the Sword of Strange Hangings, a blade to pierce a dragon’s hide. Despite taunts that no one can strike a wurm, Arthur holds firm, leveraging the light’s pain to negotiate.

Beaten and fearful, Finger relents, demanding the lamp be lowered, and agrees to guide them deeper to his hoard. The trio prepares to descend further into the tunnels in pursuit of the sword.