They came at dawn to break the wall, by Seven were they led.

To frozen walls and to weary core, Seven cross’d the plain,

To gates of Shandaular, of fallen kingdom, Seven came.

Shattered souls, bound in chains, by Nentyarch’s crown, the Seven came

The army charged with chilling song, the Seven at their head,

By flame and fiend the path was forged, the end of Shandaular.

In tears did they drown; Seven they were, weeping, to the Shield.

Within the walls, inside the halls; to break the bones, to shake the stones

Of the Shield and steal its Breath.

Of the Shield and steal its Breath.

—excerpt from the Firedawn Cycle, canto X