Chapter Ten through Chapter Twelve Summary

Chapter Ten finds Ven and Char on the road, hoping to catch a ride to the Crossroads Inn. Ven is nearly pickpocketed by a young blond girl, but his albatross feather tickles her nose, making her sneeze and revealing her scam. Char finally finds a wagon, but the owner refuses to carry a Nain, so Char refuses the ride. The boys are eventually picked up, but once in the wagon, they learn the young blond pickpocket, named Ida, is traveling with them.

The group comes across the White Fern Inn, operated by Maurice Whiting, and Ven notices there is also a large pen for his guard dogs. Finally, they reach the Crossroads Inn, where a stout but tired and aging red-haired woman greets them. The boys discover she is Gertrude Snodgrass. After sending Ida inside...