The Paladin
C. J. Cherryh
383 pages
published in 1988

Published as fantasy, though the only fantastic element is that it's set in a non-esistent country, Chiyaden, which seems a mixture of Chines geography with Japanese history.

Chiyaden is a country of turmoil, ruled by a weak emperor, though the real power is in the hands of his regent, Lord Ghita. Banditry is rife and civil war is on the verge of breaking out. Clashes between the emperor's troops and some of the more critical lords are numerous and the outlook is bleak.

It's because of one of those skirmishes that the girl Taizu comes to the old emperor's swordmaster to learn the sword and seek revenge against the killers of her family.

The swordmaster, Soka, doesn't want to at first, but she persists and sho he starts teaching her and gets drawn in her plans...

Cherryh has a reputation to tell stories from the pov of a young, insecure bewildered protagonist struggling to surviv in situations he or she cannot comprehend easily, but here the protagonist is old and experienced, knows the situation, but is still out of his depth in handling it. Not to mention out of his depth in handling Taizu, who is very strong willed and persistent..

I found this to be an entertaining and gripping read. Not the best Cherryh novel I've read, but not her worst either.