The end of the quest is at hand. RIDMARK ARBAN has sought to stop the return of the evil Frostborn. Now the malignant wizard Shadowbearer is ready to summon the Frostborn once more. Unless Ridmark stops him, Shadowbearer shall cover the world in killing ice. SHADOWBEARER has spent a hundred thousand years preparing for the end of the world, and his victory is at hand. No mere mortal shall stop him.

The Apotheosis has come at last, and it will shatter the world. CAINA is trapped in the ruins of an ancient necromancer's tomb. Unless she escapes the lethal trap, there will be no one to stop Grand Master Callatas from unleashing the Apotheosis. KYLON is desperate to save Caina's life. The deadly Red Huntress is coming for Caina, and only by the sacrifice of his own life can Kylon save Caina from the Huntress's blade. Or the Red Huntress might simply kill them both. CALLATAS is ready to call the Apotheosis and create a new humanity to replace the old. Of course, the old humanity will have to die first...every last man, woman, and child. And he will start with Caina Amalas.

Epic tales of adventure and heroism! RIDMARK ARBAN is the Gray Knight, questing to stop the return of the terrible Frostborn to the High King’s realm. Yet he did not undertake the quest alone. Here are the tales of those who accompanied him into the terrible dangers of his quest... Originally published as the novellas THE KNIGHT'S TALE, THE PALADIN'S TALE, THE MAGE'S TALE, THE THIEF'S TALE, THE SOLDIER'S TALE, and THE ASSASSIN'S TALE, and the short stories THE ORC'S TALE and THE SOULBLADE'S TALE.

Mara is the Queen of Nightmane Forest, ruler of the Anathgrimm orcs. She wishes for her people to live in peace, but nonetheless they desire war. But when a dispute between rival orcish headmen threatens to ignite a civil war, Mara must find a way to make peace, or else the Heralds of Ruin shall devour her people...

Knights, wizards, thieves, dragons, and epic heroes! Combined for the first time in one collection are all seventeen SHIELD KNIGHT short stories, adventures set in the world of FROSTBORN, SEVENFOLD SWORD, and DRAGONTIARNA! Follow the adventures of Ridmark Arban and his allies as they fight to defend the kingdoms of Andomhaim and Owyllain from the powers of dark magic.

The legions of the Heptarchy have invaded Andomhaim, and Ridmark Arban stands in their way. But without aid, Andomhaim cannot defeat the Heralds of Ruin. To seek out the weaknesses of his foes, Ridmark must travel into the depths of the Heptarchy to seek out the mysterious wizard called the Master of Keys. But the brutal rulers of the Heptarchy will not allow Ridmark to escape their grasp...

War grips two worlds as heroes rise to challenge the sinister Heralds of Ruin. In the realm of Andomhaim, Ridmark Arban leads the armies of the High King against the brutal legions of the Heptarchy. A daring ruse might defeat the might of Warlord Agravhask, or it will bring Andomhaim crashing down in ruin. In the Empire, the armies of the reunified Empire move to challenge the sinister necromancers of the Order of Blood. But Tyrcamber Rigamond has battled the Master of the necromancers before, and he fears a deadly unseen trap. For behind the Heptarchy and the Order of Blood are the Heralds of Ruin, and they will burn worlds at the command of the Warden of Urd Morlemoch.

The tide of war engulfs two worlds. Ridmark has liberated Cintarra from the dark legions of the Heptarchy. But the Heralds of Ruin now march upon Cathair Kaldran, which holds a source of unimaginable power. And if the Heralds claim that power, countless worlds will burn to ashes. To defeat them, Ridmark must take up a weapon that might consume him. Once again he must wield the Sword of the Dragon Knight...

As the city of Cintarra groans in the iron fist of the Heptarchy's legions, Sir Niall of the Order of the Soulblade and the master thief Moriah Rhosmor join forces to fight the invaders. But the dark powers of the Heptarchy may be too strong for anyone to defeat...

RIDMARK ARBAN is the Gray Knight, exiled and outcast, seeking to stop the return of the dreaded Frostborn. At last he has come to the perilous ruins of Khald Azalar, where the answer to his quest awaits. Assuming the master of Khald Azalar does not kill him first. MORIGNA was the Witch of the Hills. Now the dark magic within Morigna threatens to devour her. Unless Morigna can tame the power, it will transform her into everything she has always hated. MARA's father was a dark elven noble of terrible power. She escaped his grim realm, but now she must confront him once more, or join countless generations of his slaves in death. CALLIANDE has sought for answers since the day of the great omen heralding the return of the Frostborn. Her answers await in the darkness of Khald Azalar. But the truth might be more than she can bear...