I could not be happier at this happy season, than to announce the first novella in the Shards of Light series is now available in paperback via Amazon. Captain Justin is one of three amazing heroes who start in very different places and are set against the same dread conspiracy. He’s already tried his best but failed, and is headed now to disgrace with a heavy heart. Little does he know what his commander has in mind for him. Little does anyone know the threat that faces the Argensian Empire, too soon after a costly civil war.

If you’re new to the Lands of Hope this is a great place to get started, and if you are wondering what to send the reader on your shopping list, here’s the perfect answer– The Ring and the Flag is a standalone adventure you can give to please a friend, and leaves them free to investigate the rest of the series if they like.

The Ring and the Flag

Newly-graduated imperial officer Justin is convinced he has no future, and hearing the details of the secret mission he’s assigned for the Emperor won’t change his mind. Civil War threatens the North Mark. Justin must race against time to form a company, and lead his men into the center of the web; but what happens when his loyalty to the Empire means the death of those who follow him?
In 2002 ADR, the Empire of Argens is still reeling from the usurpation of its centuries-old throne by a landless adventurer. A ferocious dwarven warrior named Yula and his sorcerous human allies not only defeated the flower of elvish knighthood, but exposed the former dynasty as nothing less than demons in disguise. Now a young captain, ruined by his loyalty to the old regime, has one last chance to redeem his family name in the officer training corps being established by the hated new emperor.
Captain Justin gets much more than he bargained for, however, as he is sent on a secret mission to the North Mark, hotbed of disloyalty even in the old days and now on a trip-wire for revolt. Given only days to assemble a company, march north and defuse the conspiracy, the new captain will be tested too often, too hard and far too soon.
“The Ring and the Flag” is the first story in the Shards of Light saga set in the Lands of Hope, the creation of Wm. L. Hahn. More than twenty years in the making, the Lands hold tremendous adventure, a sense of history, and a strong theme of the difficult choices heroes must make when faced by the power of Despair.

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Will Hahn serves as Chronicler of The Lands of Hope, you can find all of his current tales online here, or sample his thoughts about the Lands, Life and Everything on his website.