Forgotten Realms: Mysteries Series by Chet Williamson, Richard S. Meyers

Tired of the political machinations of his egotistical fellow wizards, Benelaius retires from the College of War Wizards to take up residency in Cormyr, where he lives peacefully until he and his legman, Jasper, are forced to investigate the murder of a messenger from King Azoun. 25,000 first printing.

From the FORGOTTEN REALMS series, a fantasy novel in which a petty criminal who tries to pass himself off as a wizard discovers that he has attracted the attentions of an assassin.