The Prophecy — Hilari Bell

Perryn is a hopeless prince. His drunken father scorns his love of books, the master of arms ridicules his swordplay, and someone in the castle may be trying to kill him!

But Perryn's books are his best weapons to stop the dragon that is destroying his kingdom -- and his one hope of earning his father's respect. When he unearths a prophecy on how to kill the dragon, Perryn sets out to find the three things needed to make it come true: a unicorn, a true bard, and a special sword. But in a world where magic is disappearing, the only thing more absurd than pursuing a prophecy is believing any of these legends might still be found.

With the King's men on his trail and time running out, Perryn learns that a scholar's job is not merely to seek the truth but to understand its worth -- and that the power of the prophecy lies in his own hands.