SOLVED. Name of YA fantasy/medieval book [s]

[Tim]

I read this book in about 2004-ish. I believe it's a YA or MG, and I believe it's the first book in a series. I believe it's fantasy, but it could just be a medieval/renaissance-themed book, since I don't specifically remember any magic.

I remember the main character is a boy or young man who is an apprentice or something similar. He may be a blacksmith, since I remember the characters use rapiers and they talk about rapiers pretty frequently. It mostly takes place in a large city, but he and his friends leave the city fairly early in the book and then return for the final act. I remember there is a large battle or riot in the end. I think the word "west" is associated with it somehow, either the book title, author, series, or something in the book like the city name. I also remember it had a very colorful cover; a picture of a market or docks.

[Summer]

Could be Westmark by Lloyd Alexander?
He's a printer's apprentice, it's fantasy without magic, and there is indeed a riot. It is the first in a series.
Here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Tim]

That's definitely it! Thanks so much!

[Summer]

Welcome!