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 words hit him like a lightning bolt and dropped him to his knees. The shards of his heart exploded into a light that he had never expected. Justine came out of the kitchen and threw herself into his arms. They fell on the floor laughing and crying. Patrick held her tight and felt their tears mingle on their faces. It seemed like forever since they held each other. He sensed God holding them both. Patrick thought that He would be grinning.


"Mom brought me home," Justine whispered. "She said God told her you needed me more than she did. She said to tell you she loved you and it was all right." Patrick didn't try to talk; he just held his daughter and let her warmth melt the ice that had settled in his heart. In the far distance, he felt Yggdrasil rejoice and hold them in his branches.


"Well, that's quite the welcome," Lee said as she came out of the kitchen. "I want to hear this story."


Chapter 79