Sebastien de Castell: Knight's Shadow

Tristia is a nation riven by intrigue and corruption - its idealistic young king is dead and its heroes, the Greatcoats, have been disbanded and branded traitors - but that doesn't mean Falcio, Kest and Brasti no longer have a mission. Falcio Val Mond has completed the final task given to him by King Paelis: he has found the King's Charoites (well, one at least), and now he, Kest and Brasti must protect the girl from those her want her dead. That would be simple enough, if it weren't for the Dashini, the legendary assassins, getting in their way, not to mention the Dukes, who are desperate to hold on to their power at any cost, or Trin, the daughter of the ruthless Duke of Rijou and the cruel Duchess of Hervor, who is determined to be Queen of Tristia. Of course, the fact that the heir to the throne is thirteen years old doesn't help, nor the fact that Falcio is slowly dying of poison. And then there is the Greatcoats Lament...