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Riyria #5.5
The Thieves
THEY ATTACKED TWO RIDERS. THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY. THEY WERE WRONG.
A band of thieves set upon two lonely riders in the middle of the night. They had a larger party. They had the element of surprise. There was no reason to be concerned. But they didn’t realize who they were dealing with.
NOTE: This was originally published as the first chapter of Theft of Swords, so for those who have that book save your money…you already have this story. It's being provided as a free introduction for new readers of the Riyria books.
A band of thieves set upon two lonely riders in the middle of the night. They had a larger party. They had the element of surprise. There was no reason to be concerned. But they didn’t realize who they were dealing with.
NOTE: This was originally published as the first chapter of Theft of Swords, so for those who have that book save your money…you already have this story. It's being provided as a free introduction for new readers of the Riyria books.
17 pages, ebook
First published March 17, 2013
3 people are currently reading
1708 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Sullivan
86 books95.6k followersWe are extending the dates for the Holiday Sale. Click the image to shop (a) Out of print hardcovers just $10 each (b) Soon to be out of print hardcovers and (c) Deluxe boxsets with savings up to $80 off.
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.
My current released books:
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Coming to Kickstarter in April 2026
New short stories by: Brandon Sanderson • J.A. Andrews • Bradley P. Beaulieu • Carol Berg • Peter V. Brett • Terry Brooks • Jim Butcher • Delilah S. Dawson • Matt Dinniman • Kate Elliott • Kevin Hearne • Jessica Day George • Lev Grossman • Nancy Kress • Mark Lawrence • Scott Lynch • Jonathan Maberry •Seanan McQuire • Brandon Mull • Peter Orullian • Christopher Paolini • Kat Richardson • Christopher Ruocchio • Anthony Ryan • R.A. Salvatore • Scott Sigler • Shawn Speakman • Michael J. Sullivan • Carrie Vaughn • Brent Weeks • Tad Williams • Janny Wurts
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Indie Author: A documentary for those wo dare to dream is now FREE on YOUTUBE!
It features myself, Andy Wier, Will Wight, Travis Baldree, and many more.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.
My current released books:
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Coming to Kickstarter in April 2026
New short stories by: Brandon Sanderson • J.A. Andrews • Bradley P. Beaulieu • Carol Berg • Peter V. Brett • Terry Brooks • Jim Butcher • Delilah S. Dawson • Matt Dinniman • Kate Elliott • Kevin Hearne • Jessica Day George • Lev Grossman • Nancy Kress • Mark Lawrence • Scott Lynch • Jonathan Maberry •Seanan McQuire • Brandon Mull • Peter Orullian • Christopher Paolini • Kat Richardson • Christopher Ruocchio • Anthony Ryan • R.A. Salvatore • Scott Sigler • Shawn Speakman • Michael J. Sullivan • Carrie Vaughn • Brent Weeks • Tad Williams • Janny Wurts
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Indie Author: A documentary for those wo dare to dream is now FREE on YOUTUBE!
It features myself, Andy Wier, Will Wight, Travis Baldree, and many more.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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May 26, 2015This is my own short story, so of course I'm not going to rate it. It's free and can be found in three different ways
* Theft of Swords excerpt - this became the opening of that book when the series was re-released by Orbit
* The Riyria Sampler - a collection of three short stories and the excerpt from my new book.
* The Thieves - a free standalone that you can get by writing to me at michael(dot)sullivan(dot)dc(at)gmail(dot)com.
So here is the back story about this piece. It started in 2010 whan I was writing Nyphron Rising (book #3 of The Riyria Revelations). In it, one of my main characters was going through a "mid-life crisis" and this was putting a strain on him and his best friend. My wife was concerned that I needed a "fun scene" added to the novel to lighten the mood. So, I wrote added a chapter that is essentially what this short story became. After reading it, she said, "Excellent scene, but it has no place in doesn't fit in Nyphron Rising" so it hit the cutting room floor.
I thought the scene was "the perfect" introduction to the pair, so I did a bit of rewriting (to remove stuff specific to Nyphron Rising) and made it a short story. I never "publsihed" it, but I would give it out to readers for free who were interested in my work, but wanted to try before they bought.
Years later, this series (which was originally self-published) was picked up by one of the big-five publishers (Hachette Book Group's fantasy imprint, Orbit. My new editor kept the books very similar to how I had them, but she was concerned with how the series opened. Originally, it starts with a scene that doesn't include the main characters. Instead, it opens with a man blackmailing a fellow noble with some stolen letters. There were some early readers that were confused, and thought the series was about this secondary character because it was who they met first. Considering this character was a bit of a fool, that wasn't the right way to start out. My editor wanted me to start the book with Royce and Hadrian scaling the tower to steal the letters, and show what they did and how. For me, this didn't work, because I wanted the reader to "play along" and see if they could figure out how the letters disappear. So I needed a new opening...but what could it be?
The answer was simple, once I thought on it. The short story that hadn't been published made for a great introduction, so let's change it slightly (to fit Theft of Swords) and make that be the opening scene...and hence it was.
So, for most people, they've already read The Theives...as it is the start of Theft of Swords, but for those who haven't read any of my work, and would like to see if it's a good fit, I'm still making this available for free. Also, if you are already a fan of Riyria and would like to get your friends and family to join in the fun, then consider getting a copy of it for them. After all, who doesn't like to discuss a favorite book with loved ones? By giving them a copy, maybe they'll go on to read the rest of the series.
* Theft of Swords excerpt - this became the opening of that book when the series was re-released by Orbit
* The Riyria Sampler - a collection of three short stories and the excerpt from my new book.
* The Thieves - a free standalone that you can get by writing to me at michael(dot)sullivan(dot)dc(at)gmail(dot)com.
So here is the back story about this piece. It started in 2010 whan I was writing Nyphron Rising (book #3 of The Riyria Revelations). In it, one of my main characters was going through a "mid-life crisis" and this was putting a strain on him and his best friend. My wife was concerned that I needed a "fun scene" added to the novel to lighten the mood. So, I wrote added a chapter that is essentially what this short story became. After reading it, she said, "Excellent scene, but it has no place in doesn't fit in Nyphron Rising" so it hit the cutting room floor.
I thought the scene was "the perfect" introduction to the pair, so I did a bit of rewriting (to remove stuff specific to Nyphron Rising) and made it a short story. I never "publsihed" it, but I would give it out to readers for free who were interested in my work, but wanted to try before they bought.
Years later, this series (which was originally self-published) was picked up by one of the big-five publishers (Hachette Book Group's fantasy imprint, Orbit. My new editor kept the books very similar to how I had them, but she was concerned with how the series opened. Originally, it starts with a scene that doesn't include the main characters. Instead, it opens with a man blackmailing a fellow noble with some stolen letters. There were some early readers that were confused, and thought the series was about this secondary character because it was who they met first. Considering this character was a bit of a fool, that wasn't the right way to start out. My editor wanted me to start the book with Royce and Hadrian scaling the tower to steal the letters, and show what they did and how. For me, this didn't work, because I wanted the reader to "play along" and see if they could figure out how the letters disappear. So I needed a new opening...but what could it be?
The answer was simple, once I thought on it. The short story that hadn't been published made for a great introduction, so let's change it slightly (to fit Theft of Swords) and make that be the opening scene...and hence it was.
So, for most people, they've already read The Theives...as it is the start of Theft of Swords, but for those who haven't read any of my work, and would like to see if it's a good fit, I'm still making this available for free. Also, if you are already a fan of Riyria and would like to get your friends and family to join in the fun, then consider getting a copy of it for them. After all, who doesn't like to discuss a favorite book with loved ones? By giving them a copy, maybe they'll go on to read the rest of the series.
January 5, 2020
I've just read two stories from Michael J. Sullivan (Pile of Bones and The Thieves), both of which I've received from the author. You can also get a copy by contacting him directly.
Pile of Bones is from the Legends of the First Empire series and The Thieves is from the Riyria tales.
These are great introductions for his series and I would highly recommend to check them out if you aren't familiar with his works. They do showcase quite well the overall feeling of both his series like a puzzle piece waiting to fit in a larger story.
Pile of Bones is from the Legends of the First Empire series and The Thieves is from the Riyria tales.
These are great introductions for his series and I would highly recommend to check them out if you aren't familiar with his works. They do showcase quite well the overall feeling of both his series like a puzzle piece waiting to fit in a larger story.
March 4, 2020
This is a very short novella that serves as introduction to the Riyria novels, and man this duo have a strong Bromance and seem to be funny together, I wanna know their story!!
I am excited to start ToS, although I have quite some work to do (writing related) and I'm slowly coming out of my reading slump & back into fantasy, but I am sure I will read this saga before 2020 is over 💪🏽
I am excited to start ToS, although I have quite some work to do (writing related) and I'm slowly coming out of my reading slump & back into fantasy, but I am sure I will read this saga before 2020 is over 💪🏽
November 17, 2018
Short, sweet and left me wanting more. This short story was like opening a bag of potato chips - you can't have just one and addictive!! Now to read the rest.
April 9, 2024
I find these two characters, Hadrian and Royce, quite humorous.
May 20, 2015
Since this is also the first chapter of Theft of Swords, I am marking it as read. I loved Theft of Swords and the rest of the series!
November 13, 2020
loved it ...
November 23, 2020
Fun to revisit my favorite characters
June 2, 2021
Since this is simply the first chapter ill say this; im absolutely going to read the whole book. Extremely charming, well written, great scene development.
July 4, 2021
The story is good, but just too short for full five stars, even so, I like it :D
January 25, 2026
A clever little short story that was such a fun re-visit to Royce and Hadrian. I laughed out loud a lot in this, it's a really excellent snippet of their dynamic together
January 7, 2020
The Thieves
(Riyria #4.9)
by
Michael J. Sullivan
3 Stars
This short story (which has become chapter 1 of Sullivan’s book Theft of Swords) introduces the characters Royce and Hadrian. It is a very short tale, so there’s not a lot here, but it’s obvious that these two are characters you want to learn more about. Bring on the full book!
(Riyria #4.9)
by
Michael J. Sullivan
3 Stars
This short story (which has become chapter 1 of Sullivan’s book Theft of Swords) introduces the characters Royce and Hadrian. It is a very short tale, so there’s not a lot here, but it’s obvious that these two are characters you want to learn more about. Bring on the full book!
April 7, 2025
Such fun!
Royce is : *silently judging Hadrian from behind his hooded cloak*
And I love it!
I love these two to bits!
And NO, there aren't too many exclamation marks in this review.
I sense an impending obsession with Riyria.
Royce is : *silently judging Hadrian from behind his hooded cloak*
And I love it!
I love these two to bits!
And NO, there aren't too many exclamation marks in this review.
I sense an impending obsession with Riyria.
December 15, 2015
Great short story
June 4, 2015
This a great, smart introduction to the main characters of the Riyria books and will give you an idea of whether you'll like the whole series.
June 26, 2015
Loved this short. I've read it before but reading it again reminds me why I love the characters so much.
November 5, 2015
Loved this. This is my first foray into The Riyria Series and with the little taste that I got I'm hooked. Looking forward to diving into this series!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews