Eddie had played most of a game because Jinn had placed the board within his reach, had all but made it impossible for him to communicate in another way. Others had just played for fun, out of boredom, or because it was simply there.
It was kind of J'mon to say that the fault was not Jinn's. But not even they could not know the thoughts that had filled Jinn's sleepless nights a month ago. "The hotel has a habit of giving me what I desire," Jinn said, addressing both of them. Or maybe addressing neither. "I was careless with this gift. There is no denying that."
He picked up the board. The pieces juddered but didn't spill over the sides as he lifted the whole thing with both hands. "Until Sabrina or Yennefer are able to do something about it, this thing must not be allowed to harm anyone else." It had been harm, ranging from mere nuisance in some cases to outright terror in others, and Jinn bore some measure of responsibility for it. "I am sorry, beloved," he told Eddie, then turned to J'mon. "And I am in your debt. Will you stay with him until I return?"
The spell didn't appear to have left any marks on Eddie, but abandoning him to his own devices after that would be unbearable.