Paragon Lost - Dave Duncan
Let me preface this by saying I've been weeding out our sci-fi/fantasy section. As I went through, I took home a stack of books on probation. If I found one I could recommend to someone else, it would stay. Well, out of 6 or 7 so far, this is the only one that made the cut. A story of swords and sorcery, of honor lost and regained, this book made me curious about other books in the series "Chronicles of the King's Blades." Blades are expert swordsmen from the Ironhall academy, bound as protectors to a ward through a magic ceremony - for life or until released by the King from his service. Beaumont is considered the greatest blade Ironhall has ever produced. However, soon after his binding, he and two other blades set out with their ward on a journey to bring the king his bride. In the distant land where she lives, a tyrant sits on the throne, and the terrible events that result from their arrival there leave one blade dead, one demented, and one disgraced. Two years later, another perilous journey may allow Beaumont to take his place again among his brother blades - if he can survive it.