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

Patrick woke still strapped to the table. The sounds of breaking camp came from outside the tent. The big slave came in to collect him. The man looked at the bloody corpse that was once the surgeon and nodded. He lifted Patrick from the table and took him to the Surgeon's tent. Patrick saw the soldiers in white formed up in tight formation. The two guards who had met him at the edge of camp came to the tent.


"We have the pleasure of guarding you," the one said. "Don't try to escape. We won't be gentle."


The other one didn't say anything, but he handed Patrick some warm clothes. The big slave helped Patrick put them on. The army was already in motion by the time he was dressed and his keepers pulled him into line and marched off with him in between them.


Chapter 70