Crown of Kings — Linda McNabb

Garin's life is turned upside down the day his master vanishes. Mistaken for a wizard of great power, the bumbling apprentice is ordered to present himself at Castle Kinlock, there to provide an unknown but vitally important service to the new King of Kings. All Garin wants to do is take his master's staff to Mount Renga and there, hopefully, find the old wizard. But fate has other plans in store for the apprentice, and accompanied by jovial giant Rydan and Taya, the sullen and resentful daughter of a local fisherman, Garin discovers the world of magic is not all it seems to be...