Book excerpt: Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, and he has long been the defender of Andomhaim from dark magic. But now the realm is under attack from both the sinister Dragon Cult and the brutal legions of the Heptarchy. And the orcish warlord Agravhask, greatest of the Heralds of Ruin, leads the Heptarchy's invasion. Unless Ridmark gathers all his allies, Andomhaim will fall to Agravhask's iron fist...