Marley wasted no time, he went to his room in the palace, cleaned up, found an unmarked training uniform to put on, packed some weapons and personal effects, and headed out with the guards. Making his way through the palace, he locked eyes with someone he recognized from Trench Town. He mouthed the words "north gate" to her, and she nodded as she shuffled away. When Marley and his guards made their way to the front of the palace, they found LaStirk standing there waiting for him. He again stood tall, looking in her eyes unflinching. LaStirk stared at him, eyes narrowed, and began to circle him, looking at him up and down as if looking for something. "You're different. Why are you different?" she asked, searching his eyes again.
Marley shrugged "It's not your problem anymore, I'm exiled" he said casually.
LaStirk scoffed "Not a shred of emotion. Not even for your mother? I had the whole kingdom looking for you. I was worried..."
"My mother is dead, remember?" Marley interrupted sneering but his voice remained even.
LaStirk stepped back surprised, then sneered. "I don't know where you found this shiny new set of balls boy, but you can take them and piss off. If you are ever seen here again you will be killed on sight." She stepped out of his way, and he walked on without another word. As Lastirk watched his retreating back, she couldn't shake the suspicion that this was not the last time she would see him, and the next time would not be so pleasant.
Beyond the north gate was an area known as the "Old woods". There were many rumors, myths and legends about this area, but the only fact was no one who had gone in had ever come back. These woods were wild and untouched, filled with many large and dangerous animals, consequently, this was the only part of the city the Children of Azaacar built a wall. The gate here was for wall maintenance. There were 200 yards of flat land between the gate and the tree line, and this is where Marley now stood. The grass came up to his calves as he took his time making his way across the field. He heard the gate slam shut and lock behind him as he strode along. He didn't bother looking back.
Several minutes later, the low whine of a speeder engine reached Marley's ears. Without hesitation, he reached into his pack and pulled out a large black machete that was a standard military Issue survival tool. Marley chuckled at the irony, because in his mind, whoever was on this speeder was not going to survive this tool. But, as the speeder got closer, he smiled. Marley tucked the blade into his belt and looked back up just in time to be nearly tackled by the biggest hug he had ever received in his life. He returned the hug tightly and inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the beauty crying on his shoulder.
"I thought you were dead," Omnira sobbed into his neck. Her mother and brother stood back leaning on the speeder fighting tears themselves.
Marley stroked her hair and smiled slightly "Not just yet. Azaacar has a mission for me."
At those words Omnira gasped and stepped back and the other two came forward fully intrigued. "What do you mean? Did She speak to you?"
"Much more than that" he began to describe to them the vision he had while he was unconscious, as well as the proceedings afterward. When he was done the group just looked at him stunned. Priests and priestesses had dedicated their entire lives just to get a fleeting word from the revered Spirit of Nature. Not only did this man have an entire conversation with her, but had even visited her realm, and all without a moment of training.
Raeni just shook her head and laughed. "Well, if that doesn't prove you're the chosen one, nothing will." Raeni continued chuckling to herself as she walked back to the speeder and hefted a massive metal framed pack that was half as tall as she was. "Well, if you're going in there, you're gonna need this" she passed the pack to her son who walked it over to Marley. When Marley felt the weight of the pack he groaned "What's all this?" This time it was Omnira who spoke up. "That is everything." she said with a pained smile "when we got word that you were being exiled and heading to the north gate, all of Trench Town got together to put this together for you. Food, water, clothes, blankets, components for a shelter, everything you'll need to survive in the Old Woods." she wiped a tear from her cheek. "If only I could go with you."
Marley was overcome. He did know what to say or how he felt. He was feeling so many things he never felt before. He stared at this fierce woman crying over him and his heart broke. One half wanted to hug her and protect her from anything in this world that would ever dream of making her cry again. The other half wanted to lay her on the grass, snatch her clothes off and give her enough babies to fill an academy. Marley looked down at the pack in his hands and set it down. He looked up to find Omnira was thinking the same thing as he was. She jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. The kiss was a hot and passionate dance of swirling of lips and tongues. Mother and brother just stood there quiet but uncomfortable while the couple looked like they were trying to devour each other. After what seemed like the longest time, the two separated, breathing heavily, resting their foreheads together. Omnira gripped Marley's body tighter and buried her face in his neck. She whispered so only he could hear.
"You better come back to me"
"If it's the last thing I do. He said, lifting her chin and kissing her lips.