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

A few minutes later a wagon came through the street serving up a thick gruel for breakfast. Patrick heard grumbling from some of the people in the other tents. Obviously, they were tired of gruel. He had to admit it didn't look terribly appetizing. 


"Thank you for your kindness," Patrick said as he took his bowl.


"New here, right?" the man who was serving it said. "You won't be so thankful in a week."


"If there is anything I can do to help," Patrick replied. "You can find me here. My daughter is also good with food."


"Grain is all we have in quantity enough to feed everyone," the man said, "and we're likely to run out of that soon enough too."


"Do you have spices? Herbs? Even honey?" Patrick said, "A little can add variety, and variety may stem complaints."


"I'll speak to the quartermaster." The man clicked at the horses and drove them on perhaps twenty yards before stopping. Patrick could hear the groans, but no one refused the food.


Chapter 47