Ardneh’s Sword, Saberhagen. If you’ve read Empire of the East and the Books of Swords. This was just about exactly what you’d expect it to be. Saberhagen, bless him, does not misuse “whomever”. I was left wanting something more substantial; I’m re-reading at least the first three Books of Swords now, to see whether there was more to Ardneh’s Sword than I saw.
Update: here‘s what I found.