Forlorn Hope

Forlorn Hope is a military/mystery fantasy set in a Landsknecht environment: the general political/social organization is that of an alternate sixteenth-century Europe with magic in addition to primitive gunpowder, the presence of fantasy races such as elves and dwarves, and so forth. The hero, Wolfram, is of noble birth but cast out from his family due to the discovery that he carries Dark Elvish blood (and is hence presumably a bastard). Having made the best of things by joining a Free Company, he is unexpectedly framed with a serious breach of Company regulation - serious enough that he must choose between immediate execution and joining the penal division (known as Forlorn Hope, because the chances of anyone surviving three battles in what is, essentially, a shock/sacrifice unit are minimal). His only supporter is a young magician, Marshal Gudrun; however, her master Alberich (who is also the Company's Provost, its final arbiter) is firmly convinced of Wolfram's guilt. Having been cast out from one place of honor through no fault of his own, Wolfram enters Forlorn Hope with a deadly determination to clear his name.