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 new friend, even when that friend is a tree. She tells stories of visiting a land where peace is valued above everything 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.