The leaves crunch beneath my feet, blending in with the tweeting of birds in the trees. I shifted the bag at my waist, pulling out a thick, leather bound book. Pages stuck out at every angle, smudges from the charcoal pencil blurring the runes. I came to a small clearing, barely big enough for a small, bubbling brook to run through, and a few fruit trees scattered around. 

I grabbed an apple from emerald green leaves, plopping down in the shade of the tree. I took a bite of the apple, opening my rune book. I fingered through the pages until I got to the rune I was working on. I set my apple in the grass, wiping the juice on my vest. I lifted my hand, tracing the twirls and twists of the rune into the air.

"Lux accersi." I spoke into the rune. A small spark glowed in the air for one second, two. I felt my hope build as the small ball of light in midair  grew. It suddenly sputtered out. I groaned, smacking my palm on the ground. Where had I gone wrong? It could only be used by one person in the vicinity, and be spoked clearly. Maybe I messed up the pronunciation?

"Lux, accersi." I stated clearly into the drawn rune. A little spark started before going out. I groaned, falling into the grass. Suddenly, a twig in the trees snapped. My head jerked to the side, scanning the shadows. It's must be nothing.

I took another bite of apple, savoring the sweet juice. After finishing, I cast a quick rune to turn it to compost, sprinkling it around the base of the tree. I rose, lifting my bag over my shoulder, stowing away my rune book. Before I could blink, a sharp click signaled the next unsheathing of a blade, and the bite of cold iron was biting into my skin. I felt someone breathing down my neck, and was suddenly aware of the person's body pressed up against mine. Before I could say a word, the figure said something.

"Do not move. You will come with me. I'm supposed to kill you, but you're too cute. Let's go." And just like that, I was pulled along my a bossy elven assassin. 

——

Part two?