Finding the Runes
Rotaida pulled a wood chip from the bag, and stared at the symbol scratched on it: Algiz, the Tree of Life, upside down. That meant danger. Her free hand stole to the pendant her mother had given her, a rune bearing the same symbol, right side up for protection. 
She drew another rune from the bag. It bore the letters ‘M’ and ‘X’ combined: Mannan, people, lots of people. Another looked like a Roman letter ‘F’ except that its arms pointed upward: Fehu, possessions, also upside down and meaning loss. The last looked like a Roman ‘H’ but with a slanted bar—Hagalaz, the runic symbol of evil witchcraft.
What are the runes trying to tell me?
Sudden cackling laughter from the hut’s door startled her. She dropped the runes and stooped to pick them up, peering at the door.
A grin split Morag’s wrinkled face.