[@ineffable]
[u]Two Marks Against You[/u]

[i]Take this letter and deliver it to one with the Hero's Mark. The fate of the world depends on it. On your life, do not let it fall.[/i]

The royal carriage rattled and jolted on the cobblestone road. The velvet cushions held her like irons in a cage ever since armed guards demanded Isabella's presence at the capital at the behest of the king. It was a mercy he hadn't seen the Letter she tucked away, or else the velvet might have been real iron. The King didn't say why he wanted her at the palace, but considering all the posters around town demanding the presence of the Reaper, it wasn't hard to imagine the possibilities.

The carriage came to a halt in front of Midhaven Palace, a vast, sprawling complex built around the ancient tower where the human kings reigned for centuries. The Captain of the Guard opened the door and stretched out his hand. He was a handsome fellow, with an attractive beard and shoulder-length golden locks decorating his gentle face. He was the very model of a useless figurehead.

"Milady, the King awaits over yonder," he said, hand still outstretched.