From the introduction:
Valernus. The capital city of the country of Valdeze. One of the greatest cities in Drm and one of the youngest. Thousands of people, mostly sapiens but with a smattering of dwarves and kin, moved across the white, paved streets. On foot, on horse back, in carriages, they hustled from one place to the other, ignoring all but their destination and their own thoughts. There was little fear in Valernus, particularly near the Silver Circle, the city’s center. Silver trestles bearing the Diving Eagle and gold-gilded walls dominated the Silver Circle from which the great octagonal High Court rose. Beside the High Court stood the majestic Glory of the Gauntlet, the largest Ministry temple in the city. And, in the center of the Circle was the great fountain that legends claimed was built by the Last Emperor, the Silver Blood of Valernus. The size of a small lake, the Silver Blood was surrounded by 13 — foot high silver statues of 12 of the 13 Heroes of Noon who had fought and in some cases died during The Darkhold seven hundred years earlier. At its center, rising from the crystalline flow, surrounded by seven rows of thirteen turrets of water, rose the Last Emperor himself, Seeroth the Dark. In his silver hands, rotating on invisible strings, were seven glowing globes.