SOLVED. YA fantasy novel where protagonist is in some sort of competition to serve as an executioner/bodyguard. [s]

[John]

The general plot details I remember was that there was the main character who was disillusioned with the kingdom and his mother was some part of the guard and abandoned him from birth. There was also some part that I remember where the young people in this society were trained for combat and that he had to wear a mask but it hadn't yet molded to him. Eventually, there was some competition to become the an executioner or knight. One of the events of the competition was some trek on a desert and another event was where he had turn on his friends. The main characters best friend was a girl.

[Mary]

This might be The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan

[Emily]

An Ember in the Ashes?

[John]

Emily wrote: "An Ember in the Ashes?"

yes I believe this it, thank you