Chapters 9-12 Summary

Chapter 9 finds Vane considers that his father might have followed Raven and himself returns to the heather via the mirror to apologize. Raven in bird form confirms that Vane Sr., Sir Upward, and Vane's great-grandfather are with him and that Vane has seen his father's arm without realizing. He adds that Vane's grandfather is in the Evil Wood, "fighting the dead." When Vane asks the nearest way home, Raven cannot say, because they use the same words with different meanings. Vane bristles at being fed riddles, and more so at being told that he is the only riddle. Raven reminds Vane that after declining their hospitality he had reached home safely, but now, come voluntarily, he must make do. Raven leaves Vane dazed, but unearths a firefly for him to follow it.

In Chapter 10 the firefly leads Vane through winter darkness...