Nolyn Read online

  Praise for Nolyn

  “Nolyn is masterfully executed and the disparate storylines are equally intriguing as they are spun beautifully together into an ending full of gnarled twists and grim surprises that will leave you clamoring for more. For true fans of epic fantasy, Michael J. Sullivan’s The Rise and the Fall series is not one to miss.”

  — David Estes, Amazon #1 bestselling author of Fatemarked

  “Breathtakingly epic in scope, yet the characters are infused with the breath of genuine humanity that makes Sullivan’s work utterly unique.”

  — Andy Peloquin, bestselling author of The Silent Champions series

  “Vengeance and love test the boundaries of honor in this phenomenal epic fantasy by Michael J. Sullivan. Heart-wrenching and powerful, you can’t help but root for Nolyn and Sephryn as they struggle to unravel the plots against them before the final trap is sprung. I loved every minute and can’t wait to see what happens next!”

  — Megan Haskell, award-winning author of The Sanyare Chronicles

  “With Nolyn, a true master of epic fantasy shines even brighter. Sullivan has an amazing ability to craft a brilliant ensemble of characters and lead readers on an adventure that keeps them wide-eyed and begging for more with each expertly written page.”

  — Dyrk Ashton, author of The Paternus Trilogy

  Works by Michael J. Sullivan

  Novels

  The Rise and Fall

  Nolyn • Farilane (Summer 2022)

  Esrahaddon (Summer 2023)

  The Legends of the First Empire

  Age of Myth • Age of Swords • Age of War

  Age of Legend •Age of Death • Age of Empyre

  The Riyria Revelations

  Theft of Swords (contains: The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha)

  Rise of Empire (contains: Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm)

  Heir of Novron (contains: Wintertide& Percepliquis)

  The Riyria Chronicles

  The Crown Tower • The Rose and the Thorn

  The Death of Dulgath • The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter

  Drumindor (Release date pending)

  Standalone Novels

  Hollow World (Sci-fi Thriller)

  Short Stories

  Anthologies

  Heroes Wanted: “The Ashmoore Affair” (Fantasy: Riyria Chronicles)

  Unfettered: “The Jester” (Fantasy: Riyria Chronicles)

  Unbound: “The Game” (Fantasy: Contemporary)

  Unfettered II: “Little Wren and the Big Forest” (Fantasy: The Legends of the First Empire)

  Blackguards: “Professional Integrity” (Fantasy: Riyria Chronicles)

  The End: Visions of the Apocalypse: “Burning Alexandria” (Dystopian Sci-fi)

  Triumph Over Tragedy: “Traditions” (Fantasy: Tales from Elan)

  The Fantasy Faction Anthology: “Autumn Mist” (Fantasy: Contemporary)

  Help Fund My Robot Army: “Be Careful What You Wish For” (Fantasy: Contemporary)

  Standalones

  “Pile of Bones” (Fantasy: The Legends of the First Empire)

  About the Book

  (From the Back Cover)

  After more than five hundred years of exile, the heir to the empyre is wary about his sudden reassignment to active duty on the Goblin War’s front lines. His assignment to rescue an outpost leads to a dead-end canyon deep inside enemy territory, and his suspicion turns to dread when he discovers the stronghold does not exist. But whoever went to the trouble of planning his death to look like a casualty of war did not know he would be assigned to the Seventh Sikaria Auxiliary Squadron. In the depths of an unforgiving jungle, a legend is about to be born, and the world of Elan will never be the same.

  From Michael J. Sullivan, the New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author, a new adventure begins with the first book in The Rise and Fall trilogy. Although this series is set in the same world as the Riyria novels and the Legends of the First Empire books, it is a standalone tale. As such, no prior knowledge of the other works is required to enjoy this tale to its fullest.

  Nolyn is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the copying, scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book (other than for review purposes) without permission is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from this book, prior written permission can be obtained by contacting the author at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Nolyn © 2021 by Michael J. Sullivan

  Cover illustration © 2020 by Marc Simonetti

  Cover design © 2021 Shawn T. King

  Map © 2021 by Michael J. Sullivan

  Interior design © 2021 Robin Sullivan

  978-1-943363-50-6

  ebook Version 1.05

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Riyria Enterprises, LLC

  Learn more about Michael’s writings at michael-j-sullivan.com

  To contact Michael, email him at [email protected]

  Michael’s Novels Include:

  The Riyria Revelations: Theft of Swords • Rise of Empire • Heir of Novron

  The Riyria Chronicles: The Crown Tower • The Rose and the Thorn • The Death of Dulgath • The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter

  Legends of the First Empire: Age of Myth • Age of Swords • Age of War • Age of Legend • Age of Death • Age of Empyre

  The Rise and Fall: Nolyn • Farilane • Esrahaddon

  Standalone Titles: Hollow World

  World Map

  Maps are problematic on e-readers that don’t have adequate resolution to display them, and for this reason you can access a high-resolution map online from this link.

  This book is dedicated to everyone who has

  dared to dream the impossible.

  Always remember that the only way to

  guarantee failure is to stop trying.

  Contents

  Praise for Nolyn

  Works by Michael J. Sullivan

  About the Book

  Copyright

  World Map

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1: The Arrow of Death

  Chapter 2: The Monk

  Chapter 3: The Gathering

  Chapter 4: The Voice

  Chapter 5: One of Them

  Chapter 6: Divine Providence

  Chapter 7: The Thief and the Poker

  Chapter 8: Escape from Urlineus

  Chapter 9: Inside the Gem Fortress

  Chapter 10: Death Pays a Visit

  Chapter 11: The Orinfar

  Chapter 12: Crossroads

  Chapter 13: Vernes

  Chapter 14: A Gem of Great Worth

  Chapter 15: Teshlor Nights

  Chapter 16: Hail, Prymus

  Chapter 17: Cries in the Dark

  Chapter 18: Six Toes In

  Chapter 19: Father and Son

  Chapter 20: Children of Legends

  Chapter 21: A Cup of Wine

  Chapter 22: Founder’s Day

  Chapter 23: Miralyith

  Chapter 24: The Horn

  Chapter 25: The Invisible Hand Moves

  Chapter 26: Telling the Truth

  Chapter 27: The Last Galantian

  Chapter 28: Finding the Way Home

  Afterword

  Kickstarter Backers

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  Hello! I’m Michael J. Sullivan,
the author of Nolyn. This book is the first in my latest series, The Rise and Fall. If you had told me twenty-five years ago that I’d be a published author with twenty novels, I would have concluded you were insane. You see, as a young man, I spent more than a decade trying to get published. By October of 1995, when none of the thirteen books I had written went anywhere, I quit and vowed never to do anything creative again. So I started an advertising agency.

  A decade later, I had proven to myself that I wasn’t a complete failure because my wife, Robin, and I had built a successful business. At just thirty-four years of age, I’d accomplished most of my life’s goals: I had a beautiful and intelligent wife, good children, a house, and financial stability. Times were good, but there was a problem. Both my wife and I had reached the top of the mountain and felt like Alexander with no more worlds to conquer . . . except one—the one that got away.

  In the early 2000s, I picked up the first Harry Potter book for my daughter, who was struggling with dyslexia. Reading it, I remembered the joy of stepping between the covers of a book and tumbling into an immersive world, meeting people I wished were real-life friends. In my quest for publication by studying award-winning novels, I’d lost the fun. I’d forgotten the whole reason I started writing in the first place. I had refused to put pen to paper for over a decade, but that hadn’t stopped the stories. In particular, there were two insistent characters beating on the door to my consciousness, demanding to be let in.

  In 2004, I sat down to write the first novel set in the world of Elan about an idealistic ex-mercenary and a cynical thief. But what made writing these books so truly crazy is that I had no intention to publish. That way led to the dark side—to the depression of waiting for a call that would never come. I abandoned the dream, and with that decision came the freedom to enjoy writing again.

  I won’t bore you with the details of how the books eventually made it “into the world.” The short version is that my wife, who came to believe in the dream I had given up, willed them into existence using a combination of small press publishers, self-publishing, and finally, the Big Five. After finishing the Riyria Revelations, I never expected to return to the world of Elan. Still, Robin became depressed by the absence of her favorite duo (and so did many of my readers). So I created the Riyria Chronicles to provide some other standalone tales exploring how Royce and Hadrian had met and started working together.

  Being a fantasy author, I had created thousands of years of history while building the world of Elan, but only a small fraction of my universe had made it onto the page. Having studied history, I know there is a significant difference between how people remember the past and what actually happened. Therefore, the Elan I created consisted of two realities: the truth and a web of lies intertwined with various myths and legends.

  And that’s how The Legends of the First Empire series came into being. While Riyria centered on a pair of rogues with complementary skills, Legends focused on an unlikely group of ordinary people born in extraordinary times. Their ability to rise to the occasion ended up steering Elan’s future, even if many of their deeds would become lost to antiquity.

  Unlike when I first finished Riyria, I knew that I would return to the world of Elan. In Legends, we begin in what would have been Elan’s Bronze Age, and we see the early formation of the First Great Empire. Having done that, it only made sense to show its eventual fall, which brings us to this series.

  The three books are titled Nolyn, Farilane, and Esrahaddon. For those who have read my other stories, two of these names may be familiar. Nolyn is born in Age of War, the son of two of Elan’s most famous historical figures. Esrahaddon makes his rather mysterious appearance in Riyria during Theft of Swords. Truth be told, Farilane is briefly mentioned in both series, although I suspect many won’t remember her. She’s a scholar who is obsessed with history. Like Brin, who wrote the famed Book of Brin, Farilane pens The Migration of Peoples, a foundational historical record about my little invented world.

  Now, if you are worried because you’ve never read any of my previous books, please don’t be. I write each of my series to stand independently, and no knowledge of the others is required. That said, if you finish this book and decide to venture further into the world of Elan, you’ll find yourself on an Easter egg hunt where there are various “winks and nods” for people in the know.

  Okay, so what is Nolyn about? Well, it begins about eight hundred and fifty years after the Great War and the founding of the First Empire. Humanity is trending away from its barbaric roots and embracing a more sophisticated civilization. But Nolyn’s militaristic father still rules, and who is best suited to lead this emerging culture to its next evolutionary stage is in question.

  Like both the Riyria Revelations and Legends of the First Empire, I penned this entire series before releasing the first book. I do this so I can ensure that the story wraps up in a satisfying way. Plus, I have the freedom to go back and add foundations in earlier books when a great idea comes to me later on. Also, writing in this manner means people won’t have to wait years (or decades) for the next installment. The plan is to release the books in the summer at one-year intervals. But for those who want the tales sooner, each title will have a pre-launch using Kickstarter. People who pre-order that way will get the books three to four months before their official retail release.

  Before I go, I would like to discuss how I structured this series because it’s not conventional. In most fantasy tales, you follow the same group of characters across multiple books, but The Rise and Fall books are more akin to three standalone novels. As indicated by the titular names, each one focuses on an important figure who lives at a pivotal point in the First Empire’s 2,000-year history.

  And with all that said, I’ll take my leave and let you dive into the first book. I want to extend my gratitude to you for giving Nolyn a try. If you haven’t read any of my other stories, I hope that reading this one opens the door to more tales from the world of Elan, of which there are many: six Riyria Revelations, four Riyria Chronicles, and six Legends of the First Empire books. As for reading order, I suggest starting with Age of Myth, since The Legends of the First Empire series and The Rise and Fall have some character cross-over. While you’re doing that, Robin and I will continue to edit and polish the remaining two books. You see, writing the book is only half the battle. There is plenty of work yet to do to ensure that you receive the best stories possible. Hopefully, I’ll see you again in the summer of 2022 for the release of Farilane.

  Now, turn the page, tap the screen, or adjust the volume, a new era in Elan awaits.

  Michael J. Sullivan

  March 25, 2021

  Chapter One

  The Arrow of Death

  Nolyn Nyphronian stood in unrelenting heat and a cloud of biting flies, contemplating philosophy—no small achievement in a rain forest where hot, moist air made breathing a labor, and all things frantically rushed to become dirt. Clothes rotted and metal rusted at baffling speeds. Leather turned green in days; all else picked up a spotted black taint—jungle grime, they called it. Everything everywhere returned to that from whence it came.

  But in the Erbon Forest, the race to dirt is absolutely absurd. If the enemy doesn’t kill us, the jungle will.

  That reminded him of the popular, albeit fatalistic, adage among the imperial legions that “The Arrow of Death is never seen.” Despite this theory, Nolyn had always believed that when his time came, he would know. Now he had proof. The scout he’d dispatched was returning, and far too soon to be bringing good news.

  Nolyn couldn’t remember the scout’s name. He’d met a lot of people since transferring to the Seventh Legion. Three days traveling with a group of twenty men hadn’t been enough time to learn much of anything, much less everyone’s name. While the scout had been gone, the remainder of the squadron had waited where a rare shaft of sunlight reached the forest floor. None of them had spoken, moved, or so much as coughed. They were deep inside the enemy’s territory—sil
ence their only protection.

  Cutting his way out of the brush, the scout was slick with sweat and breathing heavily. The kid’s eyes were wide with worry, but no blood coated his blade. The fear isn’t from having been attacked—not yet, at least.

  “No outpost?” Nolyn assumed but wanted to make it official.

  “Not just that, sir,” the scout said, then took a breath. “There’s no pass. Cliffs just come together.” He looked back into the dense cluster of wagon-wheel-sized leaves that had closed up, erasing all evidence of his passage. “This is a box canyon, sir. There’s no way out ’cept the way we come in. We’re trapped.”

  That explains his quick return. Nolyn calmly nodded as if he received such news every day. “Thank you,” was all he said.

  I was right, Sephryn. We aren’t meant for each other. Never before had he hated winning an argument. First Bran, now me. She’ll be alone—the last of us.

  Touching the braided leather strap around his wrist, a gift from Sephryn, he wondered how long it would take for news of his death to reach Percepliquis, and who would be the one to tell her. Maybe my father. That brought a miserable smile to Nolyn’s lips. No—that’s what a real father would do; that’s what a human being would do. Nyphron has never been either.

  Nolyn walked over to Acer, the only animal they had. Because squadron commanders were expected to look down on their troops, the horse was fitted with a saddle. Even so, Nolyn hadn’t ridden her. He held out the reins to the scout. “Here.”

  The kid looked at the animal, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

  Nolyn thrust the reins into the young man’s hands. “Ride back to Urlineus. Report what happened. Tell them to send help.”