One evening, Emily falls asleep and wakes to Ariadne being dragged off by her hair by a hideous faerie. Emily uses her enchanted cloak to ward of the faerie, who recognizes Wendell’s power imbued within it.

Emily worries that the cloak is easily recognizable as Wendell’s magic and believes nobility will soon discover their presence. Eventually, Emily discovers they’re being followed; their shadow is revealed to be the fuchszwerge who led Emily to Poe’s dwelling, Snowbell. The fox faerie wishes to be involved in their quest and when Emily accepts his help, he reveals that they’re taking the long roads and have somehow missed all the signposts directing mortals directly to the castle. Emily wonders if the cloak’s hood has been flapping up periodically to block her view of said signposts in order to keep them away from other travelers.

As Snowbell leads them to the castle, he reveals that the Wendell’s stepmother’s gargoyle guardians have been tracking them from the trees. When Snowbell brings them to a faerie door shortcut, Lilja’s compass points straight at Snowbell, and Emily believes it’s hinting that she can trust him.