First Book of Swords (Book #1 Saberhagen’s Swords Series)

In all twelve years of Mark’s life, the sword that hangs on the wall in his home has never been used. It is only when a small group of strangers enters his village one day demanding to see the sword that Mark truly begins to understand it is no ordinary blade. When a fight breaks out, the sword takes on a life of its own, mercilessly cutting down all in its path. Mark is the only one to walk away from the bloodbath. When his mother sees one of the strangers-the Duke’s cousin-lying with Mark’s arrow buried in his throat, she commands her son to flee. Left with no choice, he takes up the sword and runs. Little does he know, he is running straight into a far greater war.This is a world of dragon-hunters, knights, and enchantresses. Of power-hungry rulers and gods that walk among humans. And a group of magical swords that has the power to determine the fate of them all.