Chapter Ten: The Devil's Games
I never made promises lightly
But there've been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold."
From "Fields of Gold" by Sting
Merlin, Nimue, and Tony walked slowly into the dark mountains. Even though it was daytime, they could barely see in front of each other. Merlin held up his staff, "Light," he commanded. A light sprung from the handle of the staff like a torch.
Tony was amazed. "Wow that's incredible!" he said.
Merlin shrugged. "It's nothing." But he grinned.
"Do you know where the Grail is?" Tony asked.
Merlin shook his head, but then spoke quietly as if he were unaware of the other two. "Let the light guide you."
"Huh?" Tony asked.
Merlin turned to the other two. "Oh it was a dream I had, when we fell asleep on the bank. Before we encountered the Mountain Trolls? I dreamt I was standing in a cave and it was dark, but I couldn't get my magic to bring light, but I saw the Grail on one side of a cliff and suddenly, King Arthur stood next to me. He told me to 'Let the light guide me.'" He noticed that Tony and Nimue's face blanched and their mouths dropped open stunned and amazed. "What? What's the matter?"
"I had a similar dream," Nimue said.
"So did I," Tony agreed. "Though not quite the same."
"What happened in your dreams?" Merlin asked.
"I dreamt I was in a castle and I saw my father, Lord Adante," Nimue replied, her voice obviously confused and coming to terms with a possible divine intervention. "I was terrified because I was being chased by these horrible demons and he told me 'Don't be afraid to hide in the darkness to find it.'"
"It seems to contradict what I was told," Merlin reasoned. "But it definately will help." He turned to Tony. "And you?"
Tony shook his head still trying to block the images out. "I dreamt that I was in a cave and I heard this song playing, 'Whiter Shade of Pale'' You never heard it?" Tony asked looking at their confused stares. He sang a little. " 'We skipped the light fandango/And turned cartwheels on the floor.' No? Okay, anyway I saw my ex-wife and we started dancing together and I heard Virginia's voice outside the cave, so I tried to help her. But Christine, my ex-wife, tried to stop me. She told me something about queens, like the queens will help you or find the way or some wierd stuff like that."
"From what I understand travelers often recieve signs the closer they are to the Grail," Merlin replied. "Especially when they are going in the right direction."
During his and Tony's discussion, they were unaware that Nimue had been walking further ahead of them hypnotized. She saw something out of the corner of her eye and was intrigued. Walking closer to investigate, she looked at the top of the hill to see what it was. She saw it and screamed as loud as she could.
Merlin and Tony ran up to her. "What's the matter love?" Merlin asked embracing his wife and cradling her to his chest. Nimue pointed upwards. The source of her screaming was the skull of a ver large dragon used as a doorway.
"It's just the skeleton of a dragon," Tony said.
Nimue caught her breath and calmed down. "I'm sorry I'm a litle embarrassed. I have this fear of dragons ever since one scarred me years ago."
"That's all right, it's no big deal," Tony said. "Wendell said there is a bunch of dragon skeletons lying around. In fact we went through one to find the dwarve's mine. He said they are all over the place."
"To ward off evil," Merlin reasoned. "Many Celtic tribes did the same thing." He then closed his eyes and reflected. Off the currents of wind, he could hear a sound like someone was chanting. It seemed to come from one of the doorways. He couldn't ignore it. "Our doorway is in there," he said pointing to a cave that was waist length to the travelers. It was dark inside and the wind howled through.
"Are you kidding?" Tony said. "You're insane!"
"It's the only way in," Merlin replied in the wearying tone of a teacher explaining to a troubled student.
"Yeah," Tony said using his hands to demonstrate. "The doorway is this big and we are this big! I'm not doing it!"
"Are you in this with us or not," Merlin asked.
"You do want to save Virginia, don't you?" Nimue asked.
Tony looked from the magician to his wife. They closed in on him their faces so close that he couldn't breathe. They both made valid points and he sighed. "Alright let's go."
"Good,"Merlin said. The three knelt down and Merlin took Nimue's hand. He bade Tony to do the same. "We don't know what's in there so step only where I step."
"Step only where I step," mimicked Tony. Nimue shushed him as Merlin crawled into the cave. He then adjusted his body to the far end keeping his feet away from a hole. He took Nimue's hand and helped ease her into the cave. As she fell into the cave, she bumped into Merlin. He almost lost his footing but was able to maintain his and Nimue's balance.
"Okay Tony come on," Merlin said as he and Nimue held out their hands. Tony hesitated but gingerly crawled into the cave taking the duo's hands as they helped him stand. He stood in the small area satisfied that he didn't fall, when suddenly his foot fell on some loose gravel. He then fell tumbling into Nimue and then into Merlin. With a scream, the three fell into the hole below!
Tony felt like he could fall forever in the dark. He remembered when Virginia was little and he read her the story of Alice in Wonderland. He read the part where Alice fell through the rabbit hole and Virginia asked what that was like. "I have no idea honey," Tony remembered answering. "But it must have been dark." Tony now knew what it must have been like.
He didn't fall very quickly, but instead seemed to fall slowly riding on the currents of wind. Unlike in Alice, where she could see a whole bunch of things on her way down, a chair, a jar marked "Grape Jelly" (or was it Orange Marmalade, he couldn't remember?) all he saw were the four walls of stone and rock around him well what he could make out in the dark. He didn't see Merlin or Nimue falling with him., but he could hear them. "Merlin, where are you?"
"Down here, Tony," Merlin yelled back. "I haven't landed yet."
"Sorry bout this," he said.
"That's all right, Tony," the wizard replied. "That can't be helped!" Tony heard two grunts as he guessed that Merlin and Nimue landed on the ground. Then, with a force of impact, that felt like it would break Tony's bones, he landed on the ground right on top of Merlin and Nimue.
"Ouch," Nimue said.
"Sorry," Tony said sheepishly. He then crawled off of them. "Are you guys all right?"
"I'll live," Nimue answered. Merlin nodded his agreement, but his thoughts seemed to be far away.
"He's doing it again," Tony mouthed to Nimue.
"Shh," Merlin said. "I hear them."
"Hear who?" Tony was about to argue when his ears perked up. He heard the chanting too! He couldn't make out words but Tony had seen enough horror films to know that hearing chanting was never good!
Merlin stood up and took Nimue's hand. "It's coming from the left." He then grabbed Tony's arm and forcerd him up.
"And I suppose you want us to follow it," Tony said.
"Of course we do," Nimue answered testily.
"Figures," Tony grumbled as he followed them to the source of the chanting.
They walked on in the darkness, not speaking just listening to the chanting as it got louder the closer they got. Tony looked around the dark and imposing walls of the tunnel.. He could just make out faces in them following the trio with their eyes. He hoped it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. The three travelers formed a chain through the narrow tunnel as Merlin linked his hand with Nimue's and she linked her's with Tony. The cave was such a tight squeeze that they could only walk sideways barely fitting in between the two walls. Tony felt like they were walking forever, when his face suddenly felt flushed. It was getting hotter! Merlin held up his hand and felt the air. "We go through there," he whispered pointing to the open end of the tunnel.
The trio held each other's hands even tighter. Nimue grabbed Tony's hand, so tightly that he felt like she was breaking it. He adjusted his hand so she wouldn't hurt it. The two of them walked into the far end. The heat was almost unbearable With his free hand Tony wiped his forehead. Merlin also rubbed his eyes to adjust to the heat. Because both her hands were occupied, Nimue couldn't wipe her face but she panted and shook her head so her hair fell back away from her face.
When they finally reached the end of the tunnel they saw the source of the heat and the chanting. They were on a outcropping of rock overlooking a fiery pit and all around the pit were red and black demons. They were small and thin in appearance with narrow pinched faces. Their eyes seemed to burn with red and yellow.Some had horns on their heads, while others just had pointy ears. Some of them danced around the flames, but most of them were lined up in a haphazrd manner, but they were all chanting: "Hail to the Dark Queen/ Hail to the Dark Goddess/Now is our time/Now is our hour/The world will see all of our power." They continued chanting until they broke out into a cackling fit of laughter.
A demon stood at the front. He was taller than the others and completely black in appearance. His eyes were large and almost looked like an insect's eyes except larger. His dark hair curled to it's sides and his mouth was shaped in a permanent "O" position. His voice was hoarse and seemed to sound like fire. "Yes," he said to his minions. "Soon now that the Dark Goddess has made her covenent with the Dark Queen, they are shaping the world for our means. We will come out of hiding and take our rightful place!"
From their listening posts, Nimue smirked. "He likes listening to himself speak, doesn't he?"
"They must be talking about Mab," Merlin said.
"And the Swamp Witch," Tony added. Merllin nodded. They looked around the place. "I don't see the grail do you?" Tony asked. A lot of good that will help, he thought, I don't know what it looks like.
"It's there, I know it is," Merlin said.
Yeah sure, Tony thought sarcastically. He turned from that direction behind him and saw three demons staring straight at him! Nearly frozen with fear, he tapped Merlin and Nimue on the shoulder.
"What is it now, Tony?" Merlin asked testily. He tapped them again and they turned. The three demons forced them to stand and held out their spears at them.
The Demon King was continuing his speech when he saw his three guards coming down from the hill onto the ground with three prisoners, two men and a woman.
"We are sorry to interrupt my lord," said one of the guards in a husky female voice. "But we found these intruders. What shall we do with them?"
"We come to seek the Holy Grail," Merlin commanded. The demons broke into laughter.
"You have?" The Demon King snickered. "No one sees our gift!"
"What do you mean your gift?" Nimue snapped.
"It came to us from out of the sky," The Demon King explained. "It's ours!"
"We need it," Merlin said. "It was ours originally."
"Well that's too bad," The Demon King said. "It now belongs to us!"
The demons crowded around them. Tony didn't know what was going to happen, but he imagined it wouldn't be good. "Okay it's yours, toodle-loo!" he said as Merlin pulled him back.
"We have come to take the Grail," Merlin said to the demons. "And we will do it by speech or by force."
"If that is the way it must be," The Demon King replied. "Tear out their livers!" The demons crowded into them, baring their sharp teeth. Merlin, Nimue, and Tony crowded into each other.
"Wait!" a voice yelled. All of the demons stopped their behaviour as a small gray creature appeared. He looked like the other lower demons, but something in his swaggering demeanour showed that he was of some authority.
Merlin recognized him immediately. "Boggart," he said disdainfully.
"Merlin, Mab's old student," Boggart said ruefully. "Made a quite a name for yourself. How...disappointing." He then turned to Nimue. "Is this the lady that I've heard so much about? So tell me is this relationship solid? I mean do I have a shot at you at all?" Nimue's only response was a slug on the little creature's mouth. " I guess not." Then he turned to Tony. "Ah a new crony. Let's see not from England, definately has the unwashed smell of having used to be a cleaner. Looks spineless, balding, and buffoonish. Don't tell me, Sir Antony the Vapid!"
"Valient," Tony corrected the annoying creature.
"Vapid, valient, same thing," Boggart said.
The Demon King then grabbed the Boggart by the collarbone. The smaller creature winced in pain. "Why do you not want me to destroy them? We have orders from the Dark Goddess!"
The Boggart waved his hand bored. "Yes, yes, I know but I also know you. Either glomp on them and you eat them or torture them for all eternity. Or they defeat you, take the Grail and la-di-da goodness wins again!" He gagged at the prospect. "Wouldn't it be more fun to make them earn their right to the Grail?"
"How do you mean?" The Demon King asked.
"Yes how?" Merlin replied.
The Boggart faced the three newcomers. "Do you like games?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Each one will play a game that tests their skill in one way or another. If they win all three, they get the Grail and get to leave. If we win all three, they get to remain here and you my Lord will have a new snack!"
The Demon King considered this prospect. "I know you Boggart you are a prankster you may have this set in one way or another. On the other hand, it would prove diverting. Very well, I agree! Let the games-"
"-Wait my lord," The Boggart said. "They haven't yet agreed to this! What say you?"
The three of them went into a huddle to discuss. "It appears that we have no choice," Merlin said.
"I think I would choose to wait to get eaten later over getting eaten now," Tony said.
"Unver the circumstances, we had better take this suggestion," Nimue said. They broke away.
"We accept," Merlin said.
The Boggart nodded. "Alright, the wizard will go first." Suddenly there was a flash of light filled the room. When it ended, Nimue and Tony were in seperate cages and Merlin was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Merlin?" Nimue gasped. "What have you done with him?" She yelled at her captors.
"We have taken him to do his test," The Boggart replied.
"But you didn't say that we wouldn't be together," Nimue said.
"You didn't ask," the Boggart smirked. "It's the way I planned it."
"Why you bastard!" Nimue said wanting to fight him through the bars.
"Why not have us play these games at once and be done with it?" Tony asked.
"It's more fun, this way," The Boggart replied.
"Nimue, Nimue," Tony reassured her. "It's okay. He'll make it."
"I hope you're right, Tony," Nimue said. "I do hope that you are right."
Merlin sat alone in the darkness though it wasn't like before. Earlier, he could feel rocks around him or at least know where he was but here it was different. He was surrounded by nothing, no rocks, no ground, no noise. It was as though he was suspended in mid air but there wasn't anything keeping him up. Even though he was confused, he could feel the presences all around him. "I know you are out there," he said quietly not wanting to betray any emotions beyond coolness and diffidence. "Come on out." He was answered by eerie demonic laughter.
He whirled around to the direction of the laughter, but was clawed by a demon. Merlin drew back in pain. The demons around him once again laughed and as he turned to the other side, he was once again met with scratches. With each scratch the wizard felt weakened, by the loss of blood. "Is this your game," he wheezed. "To claw me until I lie defeated?"
The demons laughed once more. "No," the Demon King's voice could be heard. "You must find a way to defeat all of us at once."
Merlin tried to reach out
for one of the demon's arm, but he sprinted from him. He felt another
claw at his face. He tried once more and this time a demon clawed him
so hard that he fell to the ground.
Lying on his back, he could
see clearer out of the corner of his eye. As the demon's claws struck
down, he could see little sparks of red light emerging from the claws
as they tried to strike. Suddenly, Arthur's words came back to him:
Let the light guide you.
"You boys are too tense," Merlin wryly observed. "You need to relax!" The second time he saw the red light emerging from the claw, he stopped it with his own magic and forced the demon back. He then spread his arms out wide, and chanted, "Anail nathrach ortha bhais bheatha do thuar dheanamh!" Suddenly, a yellow light filled the entire room! The demons that before he couldn't see had surrounded him in a circle. Now they drew back covering their eyes and cowering from the light. Merlin himself was so used to the darkness that he, Tony, and Nimue had encountered the past few days that he felt temporarily blinded. He blinked to adjust his eyesight to the light. Before his very eyes, the demons turned to stone right in front of him!
He stood and sighed relieved when he heard a sarcastic clap. The boggart appeared from behind a wall and sauntered in front of them. "Congratulations, you won!" He said. "Now let's see if your companions can win as well!" A flash of light appeared and Merlin was gone.
Nimue suddenly found herself alone in a cave that shone with the brilliance of the ice on the walls. She shivered a bit in the cold. That's strange, she thought, in the demon's main lair it was hot now it's so cold that I might as well be in the North. "What kind of a test is this?" she demanded aloud.
From all around the walls she could hear the echoes of the demonic laughter. The Demon King's voice boomed throughout the walls sending small traces of ice falling from the ceiling. "We tested your husband on his magickal abilities and his strength. We are testing you on your cleverness. You must hide where my demons cannot find you. You have three chances, if you manage to elude my minions twice, you win. But if we win twice, then you belong to us!"
Hide and seek, Nimue thought sarcastically, Wonderful. She looked around the cave searching for a place to hide. She had no luck, until she looked above her head and saw a small tunnel. She pushed herself onto the hill and crawled to the top, her foot knocking over some gravel on the way down. She nearly tripped on the ice as she hoisted herself up to the top of the cave and crawled into the cave. She wasn't there for too long, before she felt a clawed hand tug her dress. A small demon glared at her right in the face. "Boo," it said then she heard that obnoxious cackle. Annoyed, she crawled out of the cave.
"That was the first time, we win," the Demon King said. "One more win and your pretty head will roll."
They disappeared again. Nimue stood in the tunnel trying to look for another place to hide. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw what gave her away. Her image was reflected on a far wall on the ice. She grunted. "I would explain that that was cheating, but somehow I think the lecture would go way over your heads." She said sarcastically. But then a thought occured to her. Maybe she could use her image to her advantage, but how? Suddenly, her father's words entered her mind: Don't be afraid to hide in the darkness to find it. She had a plan. She then stood up in the tunnel and waved at the devi's minions! She could see her image being reflected on a wall to her left. She waved once again. "Cocky just the way I like my women," she heard one say. Then she ducked back into the cave. She then crawled into the dark through the narrow ledge. She heard the devil's screams of frustration as her trick worked! She then crawled out of the cave and knelt down. Under her she could see the devil's being fooled by her kneeling image being reflected on a large wall to her right! She gave a slight giggle as she ducked back in the tunnel. This time she pushed her body higher her hands and feet getting used to crawling around in the dark. Her fingers grabbed onto the narrow ledges in front of her as she climbed upwards. When she reached the top, she once again glanced out of the cave as if searching for another place to hide. Her image then reflected on several walls. The devils ran from wall to wall confused searching in every tunnel, save the one she was in. But they could not find her!
"You win," The Demon King groaned. Nimue jumped up and down clapping her hands with delight. "But next time it won't be so easy!" Suddenly, a lightening crash emerged from the cave and hit the walls! The reflecting ice walls were now ash and liquid. "Let's see how clever you are now," the Demon King said his voice extremely smug.
Time to think of something else, she thought, How can I trick them this time? Then a thought occured to her. She ran inside a tunnel and picked up a large rock. She then tossed the rock into another tunnel next to her. Just as she suspected, she could hear the demons scampering into that tunnel. She ran inside the cave and hid behind a stalagtite for a few seconds. She could hear the footsteps of the demons entering the tunnel. She then picked up another rock and tossed it near a wall. Once again the demons ran to that wall as Nimue made her escape. Just keep moving, she told herself, hide in the dark they won't find you. Once again, she hid behind a wall of rock. She heard their cries of despair when they looked behind the stalagtite that she hid behind before. She tossed another rock to the wall across from her and made another fast getaway. She stifled a giggle. There was no point in hiding if she drew attention to herself, but this was getting to be fun. She moved her fingers along the wall feeling for an opening to the tunnel. She pushed herself through and then edged to the top. She tossed a rock to the bottom, then scampered back on to the floor to a narrow wall. Just as she suspected the demons were fooled by her dropping a rock from the ceiling and went to the top thinking that she would hide on the top of the tunnel. The demons grunted and cursed in frustration and Nimue knew that she won this game!
Suddenly, a flash of light filled the room and the demons disappeared. In their place, stood the Boggart. He walked towards Nimue's hiding place. "Beauty and brains what a package," he said. "No wonder Merlin likes you. You know if you ever get tired of being with the wizard you could always come to me."
Nimue grabbed the Boggart by the shoulder and held him up so he was face to face with her. "Let's get one thing clear, Boggart," she said. "I love Merlin and I always will! The only time that you and I would ever lie together would be if we were in a mass grave!"
"So there's still a shot?" The Boggart asked his voice wheezed in the woman's grasp. She squeezed his shoulder tighter. "Alright, you win. I like a forceful woman." Another squeeze. "Alright, alright. I'll stop, now put me down." She dropped the Boggart to the ground. "You won and you are two tests towards the Grail but let's see how Antony the Vaucous does."
Before Nimue could correct, the Boggart on Tony's nickname, she was blinded by a light and found herself back in her cage with Merlin standing across from her instead of Tony!
When Tony came to, he found himself seated in the dark. He moved his fingers up and down to get a better sense of his surroundings. He felt the frame and legs of a chair under his feet and then his hands moved in front of him and ran along the smoothness of a table top. Tony ran his fingers along his wrists, they weren't bound so what kind of game was this? He once again ran his fingers along the table top. They stopped something hard. Tony trailed his hands upward along the waxy long object in front of him. When he reached the top and felt the wick, he knew it was a candle. Satisfied, he reached into his pocket to pull out his cigarette lighter. The lighter made a small spark as he gently put it on the wick. The room gave a small light, but bright enough that Tony could see three other candles on the table. He walked to each candle lighting them. The room grew gradually brighter and he could see more and more of his surroundings. He was in a very grand room surrounded by red walls with black frescoes that looked like people being tortured. Cheery, Tony thought sarcastically. The chairs were black and the arms looked like claws. Tony shuddered not believing that he sat on that chair. The table wasn't as empty as Tony previously thought. Bowls of fruit lay on the table as well as cups of some dark liquid that Tony didn't even want to imagine it was. Small boxes also lay on the table, familiar ones to Tony. Were they cards?
Finally, the last candle was about to be lit. Tony lit the final candle and felt a shock go through him. He was surrounded by demons! They peered at him with the burning eyes and their devilish laughter. Tony was terrified and for a second considered blowing the candle out and escaping, but he knew they would find him and where would that leave Merlin and Nimue? Most importantly, where would that leave Virginia? He gathered his composure and decided to greet them. "Hello, fellas," he said.
"Hello," they mocked.
"Looks like you guys like to play cards," Tony said pointing at the card deck.
The Demon King laughed his voice echoing through the ornate room. "And that is your game," he said. "I understand that you play. This time you will play for yourself and your friend's souls!"
No pressure there, Tony thought but he gulped. He remembered when he played Snap, or Egyptian Rat in Kissing Town. He just made it when that old bat beat him! Could he play this time? The demons sat in their places as Tony's throat felt dry. he had no choice. He sat down on a chair trying to relax. "Who want's to deal?"
The poker game lasted several hours and it was extremely eventful! Sometimes Tony won and sometimes the demons won, but it was in a small amount so no major hands were exchanged. By now there were four players left, Tony and three demons.
"I'm out," one of the demons said. Tony looked at his hand, an jack, king, ten, and ace of hearts. The makings of a Royal flush. Now all he needed was a queen. Could he do it, would his luck hold out?The chips lay on the table in the amount of 5,000
"I am going to raise the stakes," said one of the demons as he grabbed a card from the deck. "To 2,000." Tony felt a chill go through him. Could the demon be bluffing? Did he have a good hand?
The other demon whistled. "Most impressive," she said. "I'm afraid my hand will not suffice, so I will only raise it by 50.00" She picked another card from the deck, her voice and face remaining as impassive than ever.
Tony shuddered. She was definately bluffing, she had a good hand. He had seen enough episodes of Grand Poker Championship to know when someone was bluffing. He felt the demon's eyes boring on him expectantely and he felt nervous himself. The only way he could win was if he had a queen, but was he that lucky? But if he lost he knew that he didn't have a choice. Suddenly in his mind he heard the song, "Whiter Shade of Pale." It took him back to his dream of meeting Christine. Her words entered his mind: The queens will find the way. He made sure that he looked as nonchalant as possible. "I'll see your 7,050 and raise it to 100." He then reached his hand on the top of the card and lifted it from the deck. As he looked at the card, all feeling and tension left his face and body. In front of him was the Queen of Hearts!
The male demon then put down his cards. "Full House read it and weep!"
The female demon shook her head. "Very good, I am impressed. That is probably the highest hand we had all night."
"Thank you," the male demon said as he tried to gather his winnings but the female demon stopped him with her hand.
"Until now," she said. Then she lay down her hand to show a straight flush. The male demon cursed as the female demon laughed smugly. She then turned to Tony. "Let's see what you have."
Tony shrugged. "You're good, probably one of the best and I am impressed but not quite good enough." He then lay down his Royal Flush. " I'd quote from Devil Went Down to Georgia, but I think you've heard it enough."
The female demon screamed in rage and tried to attack Tony, as he gathered the chips greedily. Just then a flash of light resounded through the room and Tony found himself back in the main throne room surrounded by Merlin, Nimue, and the Boggart without his winnings. "Hey, where's my money?" he asked.
"I never said that you'd get the money," said the Boggart. "They just said that you'd win!"
"Why you little-" Tony reached out to grab the Boggart as Merlin held him back. All around them they heard the scream from the demons. "That doesn't sound good," he said.
"The demons are pretty sore losers," The Boggart said pointing to a tunnel at the far right. "The Holy Grail is through that tunnel."
"Wait a minute," Nimue said. "How can we trust you?"
"How can you not?" The Boggart said. "Queen Mab ain't going to like that I helped you, but oh well I do things at my own discretion. Don't go out this way, the demons will be looking for you!"
Nimue and Tony looked to Merlin. "The Boggart has no loyalty to Queen Mab or anyone else for that matter."
"Do you really have time to sit here discussing this?" The Boggart said moving his arms around the room indicating the louder screams.
"We don't," Merlin said. "Come." He ran to the tunnel followed by Nimue and Tony.
As they left, Tony still had a complaint. "I don't want to go to that tunnel. I want to go to the croupier to cash my goddamned winnings." Their voices got further and further away until they were out of earshot.
The Boggart watched them go, a wry smile spread across their face. "Yeah they'll find the Grail. Now, should I have warned them about the Keeper? Nah, I'm sure they'll figure it out."