Within the Hollow Crown (The Imperial Metals) (Volume 1)

Jareld is the brightest young scholar in the Kingdom. He prefers quiet libraries to the big, scary world. Why go there when you can read about there instead? But when he stumbles on a clue regarding the lost Sword of Kings, he’s given the worst assignment of his schooling: Find it, or fail out of the Academy. Soon, he’s caught up in an adventure dealing with life, death, magic, pirates, jesters, dragons, misunderstood women, and mud. But the greatest danger may be the treasure he seeks, for buried with the Sword there lies a secret that could tear the Kingdom apart.