"A pity," said the woodcock. "There is no danger that way. But without an invitation you could not even find the door. As it is, you'll have to go in by the back way and take your risks."
"I have to go, whatever they are," said Fiona.
"Noblesse oblige," said the woodcock. "Quite so, quite so. Have you been told about the wish?"
"Yes," said Fiona. "I know about that."
"The other thing," continued the bird, "is that you must stick to the main path. Remember that. You must not turn out of it for any reason of any kind. You'll see lots of side paths, and you'll see other things too; but if you once leave the main path by so much as one step you'll never get home again. There are no short cuts to Fairyland."
"Thank you so much," said Fiona. "But how shall I know the main path?"
With his long bill the woodcock tweaked the point feather out of one of his wings and gave it to her.
"This will take you through," he said. "It will point the right way for you; that's why it is called the point feather. Just follow it. If you are frightened and want to leave your search and come home, tap on the ground with it and you will be back in Glenollisdal. But somehow I don't think you will. And whatever you do, don't lose it. When you reach the fairy grove, show it to the guardian, and he will let you in; and mind you don't go in unless he shows you its fellow. Oh, I'm all right, thank you; I'll have grown others long before they are needed. There is no great rush to Fairyland on the part of people who haven't got to go, my dear."
"It all sounds so much more difficult than I thought," said poor Fiona.