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 was wakened by the surgeon and handed a bowl of gruel. There was some bitter tasting herb in it, but Patrick choked it down.


The surgeon just watched until Patrick had finished, then led him out of the tent. They were surrounded by a camp which looked almost as big as the one around the City, The refugees had made their tents into makeshift homes These tents stood in rigid lines and all looked identical. It was clear to Patrick the only purpose of this camp was military. Soldiers in white bustled about their work paying no heed to the surgeon and Patrick. He noticed a few others who worked in the background. The soldiers, like the surgeon and Prince were more olive toned than the Pax. These others were much more diverse though they were dressed in grey or brown. Their eyes flinched away from the surgeon. More slaves. What have you got me into? He silently asked the Goddess, but got no answer. He was on his own here.


Chapter 68