The paladin
C. J. Cherryh (Author), Gary Ruddell (Illustrator)
"Now betrayed by the Emperor he once protected, master swordsman Saukendar leaves the way of the sword behind him forever--so he thinks. When a headstrong peasant girl burning to avenge her murdered family demands that he train her, Saukendar is faced with a momentous choice. Send Taizu away, never see her again--or join her and destroy the tyrant who has nearly destroyed them both."--Syndetic Solutions, LLC
Print Book, English, 2002
Baen Books : Distributed by Simon & Schuster, New York, 2002