When Raven entered the tavern a week later, Hoggle was already waiting for her. She sat down, ordered a chicken pie and an ale, and asked, "Is everything set?"
"Of course, I never leave anything to chance. You'll be riding with a group of merchants for most of the way, which will waylay any suspicions."
"How big of a group?"
"A small caravan, consisting of three wagons. Two of the wagons are singly owned, but one is a couple and their daughter."
"How will the sleeping arrangements work? I don't personally mind setting up a tent, but your fae might balk at such a thing."
"The less you worry about him, the better. He'll do his part, and you'll do yours."
"What is the plan, Hoggle, be honest with me here. Because right now, even with mine and Ludo's skills, it's a suicide mission."
He licked his lips. "There's to be a coronation ceremony for Prince Tobias in two weeks time. Jareth has an invitation to be part of the entertainment. There will be festivities, competitions, and magic shows. You can find a way in, I know you. You've waited seven years for this opportunity, you can do it."
"Alright, you've got me there. But there will be heightened security because of the ceremony. I'll need everything you've got supply wise."
"I've already got everything for you. Knew you would ask." He lugged a large pack onto the table.
She flashed him a wide smile. "You're the best, Hoggle."
"Be safe, Raven. And come back rich."
The wagons were waiting in the center of Creektree, the town she resided in currently. It was an unremarkable town in a series of unremarkable towns she had lived in off and on. She liked them for their anonymity, though jobs for her kind were scarce. Thankfully, there was the city of Galen nearby, which is where Hoggle typically had jobs for her. She wouldn't be heading that way today. Instead, she'd be traveling towards Williamsburg. She shuddered at the memories that place brought.
"So, looks like this will be easy enough traveling," came Jareth's voice, far too close to Raven for her liking.
She laughed, moving to add more room between them. "You've obviously never gone through Fiery Forest before. There are all kinds of creatures you don't want to run into. Even the wagon path can be dangerous. Merchants usually hire mercenaries to keep guard, but I'm guessing that's why Ludo is coming along."
"Have you been that way before?"
"Once, years ago. We'd better get going. We have over a week and a half's worth of travel and we can't afford to show up without any time to prepare."
"I look forward to traveling with you, Miss Raven," he smirked suggestively.
She blinked. Men didn't get very far with her when they tried to flirt. They generally realized very quickly that she had no qualms in keeping their heads and other bits in check. Jareth was more handsome than the others who'd attempted to come on to her, but that didn't mean she was game. In fact, she would have to lay down the rules real quick if she wanted to be left alone. "Look, I realize that you're probably used to getting your own way, and I get that it's a fae trait of some sort. But you listen well; I'm not here to keep you company in bed, so try your luck elsewhere."
"You've encountered many of my kind, have you?" He asked it so casually, that she wouldn't have thought anything of it. Yet, there was an underlying anger in his eyes which had her initially balking in fear, until she recognized that the anger wasn't addressed towards her. Perhaps he was an exile, and that explained his desire to be part of this scheme. "Just one, but that was enough," she replied flippantly.
The anger was gone as suddenly as it came, as he chuckled, "Touché. And Precious, I make no promises to stop in my attempts to woo you over."
"My name isn't Precious," she ground out between her teeth.
"Yes, I'm aware, but you do look so fetching when you're upset."
She growled in frustration as she stomped off to get on the wagon, hopefully not the one hewould be on. Still, a smile tugged at her lips. At least the ride wouldn't be boring.
Ludo strode up to her, asking, "Want me to scare him some, so he'll stop bothering you?"
Her smile turned to a full grin, "No, I don't believe that will be necessary, thank you. It will be amusing to see how he takes constant rejection." Her face morphed into a serious expression as she said, "I do want you to keep an extra sharp eye out, though. If the Queen is using dark magic, then the forest will be even more treacherous."
"You can count on me, Raven."
"Thank you, Ludo, you're the only one I trust right now."
He snorted, "What, not the boss?"
"Hoggle has his own agendas, so no, I don't fully trust him. He's been holding something back about this job, but he's stubborn, so I know he won't tell me. We'll just have to be careful." With that, she adjusted her knife belt more securely to her waist, and climbed on board the wagon
