How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He swung round in consternation, but as soon as he met Merriman's eyes he saw that he already knew. There was no surprise in the hawk-nosed face, but only the beginnings of a kind of pain. "Yes," he said wearily. "The witch-girl is here. And I think you should stay beside me, Will Stanton, for this next while, and watch with me, for I do not greatly care to watch alone." (7.54)
Hawkin betrays them and Merriman already knows what's about to happen. While this is partly because of the whole time-traveling thing, it's also because of just how much wisdom Merriman has. He knows he can't stop what's happening, so he doesn't try to, no matter how much it bugs him.
Quote #8
He had three of the Signs of Power now. He had, too, the knowledge to use the Gift of Gramarye: a long lifetime of discovery and wisdom, given to him in a moment of suspended time. He was not the same Will Stanton that he had been a very few days before. (7.143)
Will has grown a lot over the course of his mission, and he definitely has more wisdom now. Sure, he's learned a lot about the Old Ones, but where he's really made strides is in his ability to think for himself and problem-solve. Plus he helped saved the world from the Dark. That should count for something.
Quote #9
It was an antler, like and yet not like the antler of a deer. Will paused suddenly. A strong and totally unexpected feeling had leapt out at him when he touched the antler. It was not a feeling he had ever had in the presence of the family before; it was the mixture of excitement, security, and delight that came over him whenever he was with one of the Old Ones. (8.6)
Will knows the carnival mask is from an Old One even before he opens it—he can sense it. That's the type of knowledge that really comes only from experience. There's no label or instruction manual that informs Will what he's holding. He simply gets it from being around Old Ones for a while.