Sword of the Feara by Dan Kretzer
The kingdom of Skara is failing, and its people, the Feara, have lost their way. In a land of swords and sorcery, Hale Gildeen is a master of neither. Drunk as often as not, the disinherited nobleman was never anyone’s idea of a hero; but when he is enlisted to help rescue three peasant girls from a witch, he uncovers a secret that could reverse the fortunes of a dying kingdom. Pursued by a relentless tyrant, he finds himself in a race against time as a dark power rises from the past to eradicate his people from the land. With the odds mounting against him, the reluctant hero must rely on his wits to keep hope alive and earn the title Sword of the Feara.
