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.

Ten year old Justine has lived with the loss of her mother for two years. Even while she misses her Mom, she is discovering the gifts they share. When bullying at school makes Justine’s life miserable, she befriends a tree she calls Drasil. It isn’t fair that life causes so much pain for Justine, so her father is happy when she makes a friend, even when that friend is a tree.

She tells stories of visiting a land where peace is valued above all else and hospitality is the primary virtue. Her father listens to her stories and marvels at how she changes, even as he wonders if her stories are true, or the fantasy of a lonely young girl. When the stories get darker and more dangerous, he worries that she is being hurt, even in this land of peace.

He has no idea how much they will both be changed as they get caught up in the struggle between a people who believe in peace, and those who trust in war.

Playing on Yggdrasil

"We'd like to keep her here overnight, just in case." A doctor had come in behind them. "Besides it isn't often that we get a genuine hero in this place."


"I'm no hero," Justine said. "I just couldn't stand there and let him take Kelly."


"I think you're a hero," Ms. Hall said. "I couldn't do what you did. My stomach aches just thinking about it."


"You'd do it if you had to, Ms. Hall." 


"I hope so." Ms. Hall turned to Patrick. "You have an amazing daughter. If you don't mind I'm going to go home and hug my kids and have a good cry."


"We'll move you into a nicer room in a bit," the doctor said. "Rest, but try not to go to sleep just yet."


"So, can you tell me what happened?" Patrick asked.


"What made you think that you could stand up to this man?"


"I couldn't just stand and watch him drag Kelly off. She'd turned all white and was crying. I thought about her and her mom in that place and it just sort of happened."


Chapter 23