Author:
Alex McGilvery has been reading since before he can remember, and writing almost that long. He has published 18 books and is author and editor at his imprint Celticfrog Publishing. He lives in Kamloops with his dog and the stories clawing their way out of his head.

They've never gone on a quest. They've never done anything that wasn't in The Book.

God appears in Paul's kitchen during breakfast and sends Paul on a quest. The quest begins by taking the first person he meets as his companion. Daniel comes by to trade for vegetable and begins a Tuesday that ends with them on the road away from their home with only a Page from Paul's Book to guide them. Paul and Daniel learn very quickly that the world is bigger and stranger than anything they'd known before. Only as they starting succeeding in their quest do the friends realize they are fighting an ancient and powerful evil. If they win, their world will never be the same. If they lose, all hope of love and beauty may be lost.

Imagine that Adam and Eve not only refused to eat the forbidden fruit, but pestered God morning and night to tell them what to do so they would not displease God. Imagine they were given Books to follow so they would never anger God. Imagine if those Books were wrong.

They've never done anything that wasn't in The Book. This Tuesday, God sent them on a quest. Now, they’re learning that not everything is in The Book.

By the Book

"Needed to scout out a path to draw the logs to the road. The drayers won't haul the logs from where they fall, will they?"


"Men who run the big wagons to haul the logs to Rym. Don't work for them if you think I'm tough." The Boss pushed himself to his feet. "Don't be trusting God to be doing all your thinking for you. the Book will tell you how to do something, but you still need to learn the lessons. There are a lot of ways to die following the Book." He went and watched over the gamers' shoulders for a while before sitting in his usual place in the corner.


No more logs got hung up before the Boss announced one morning that they were to pack up. It was time to meet up with the drayers and take the logs to the city.


They struck camp and packed all their gear into packs like Paul's. Paul gave Daniel Callam's pack and they stuffed the tent and extra furs into it. He also had a long knife that was nearly the length of Paul's forearm. He had no idea what he would use it for, but perhaps he could trade it in Rym.


Soon they were at the road and the drayers arrived. They led huge horses that were chained to the sections of log. They pulled the logs to the road where other men used a complicated system of ropes and levers to load the logs onto wagons.


It was a day's work to make sure all the logs were ready for the drayers. Then the foresters got ready to make their way into the woods to cut more logs.


"You won't consider staying on?" the Boss asked. "You're both good workers." 


"No," Paul said. "We have to get on to Rym."


"If you need work again, ask for Liam. I'll treat you fair." the Boss handed the Page back to Paul, then he counted out fourteen coins. "Keep the gear as a bonus." He was turning away then came back to Paul. "You were wise to hold to a limited term. It might be months before I need to get to the city. Remember that. the Book around here isn't as forgiving as you're used to." 


"What do I need with a pair of greenhorns?" the drayer said. "The city's that way." He pointed north. "Two days if you walk smartly and don't get caught in the snow."


"This ain't snow," the other man said. "You don't want to get caught out in a real snow fall."


"We'd better get going then," Daniel said. They hoisted their packs to their backs and started away up the road. Soon the sound of shouting faded and it was just them and the crunch of their boots in the snow.


Chapter 13