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

The sound of children playing woke Patrick and he lay a while just to listen. He didn't mind this sound as an alarm clock at all. 


"Dad, if you want tea, it's made," Justine said from the other side of the tent wall. 


"You stopped snoring," she said, though her tone added a "duh" on the end.


He crawled out into the main tent then went outside to get a cup of tea from Justine.


"Is it my imagination or are there way more children around?"


"More kids," Justine said. "There are some from over the other side of the camp. They said they like having something to do."


"Someone has to start." Stone came over to them and sat down. "We started it, and our hosts haven't complained, so now it's spreading."


"Children wouldn't play to avoid offending their hosts?"


Chapter 53