SOLVED. YA Fantasy. A knight fleeing from Death. Read around 2000-2008. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Lyssa]

I read this book when I was in middle school or high school, probably 2000-2008, but it might have been published in the 90's. The MC is a young man, son of a duke or king I think, and he's nervous b/c he's old going to have a ceremony, might be a knighting. I remember there was a small test, his father swung his sword at his neck as he knighted him; if he had flinched, he would have failed. He didn't flinch, and was knighted. Then a wizard or something similar gave the young man a prophecy: he would never live to take his father's place. He leaves, believing he will die if he stays. He had traveling companions, at least one boy and a girl. At one point they come upon a village that was destroyed by a monster, I think it might have been an ogre. The ogre was immortal b/c it had hidden its soul, guarded by man-eating mermaids. The man was able to get the ogre's soul and destroy it, and kill the ogre, but I believe one of his companions died. Death rides up to him on his horse, and the knight says he's done running and is ready for Death. Death says he was never chasing him, and the prophecy never said he would die young; only that he wouldn't take his father's place. Fleeing as he did, he would never inherit his father's title. Death was grateful that the knight had taken care of the ogre for him, so he offered to tell him when he would really die. The knight declined, saying it had been a heavy enough burden the first time.

[Becca]

Knight's Wyrd by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald looks like a match

[Lyssa]

Becca wrote: "Knight's Wyrd by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald looks like a match"

OMG I recognize the cover, this is it!! Thank you!

[Lyssa]

Knight's Wyrd by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald is the book I was looking for!

[Becca]

Glad to help!