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

He continued in the same vein for a bit longer, but Patrick was lost in his own thoughts. Maybe he'd been so fixed on why, he'd forgotten about the who. At the end of the service they sang Silent Night and filed out wishing each other a Merry Christmas until Patrick was hoarse. Since they were sitting almost at the front, they were the last people out of the church.


"Glad you could make it," Pastor Daniel said.


"Thank you," Patrick shook his hand. "Merry Christmas."


Justine hugged the Pastor and introduced him to Kelly. They walked home quietly and found Kelly's mom waiting patiently in the driveway.


"Merry Christmas," she said to Patrick and Justine before pulling out of the drive.


Patrick followed Justine into the kitchen. She put the kettle on for hot chocolate and sat at the table with him.


"Do you think the Pastor was right about evil and stuff?"


Chapter 36