Dragon Prince

When his father is gravely wounded in a dragon hunt, Rohan becomes the ruling Prince of the Desert far sooner than he ever expected, with no army and no reputation to back his claim. High Prince Roelstra has spent years marrying off his many daughters to bind the continent's princes to him, and now means to fold the Desert into his growing empire, starting with Rohan himself. At the grand gathering where the princes renew their allegiances, Rohan plays the fool while quietly maneuvering Roelstra into a trap, helped by Sioned, the Sunrunner sent to watch over him. The opening novel of Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince trilogy.