The Hounds of Ash: and other Tales of Fool Wolf — Greg Keyes

Thrust into perilous action by his father's spirit and his village's shaman, Fool Wolf, the laziest of heroes, must face his battles or face the wrath of his ancestors. In this collection of seven short stories, Fool Wolf is thrown on the mercy of those gods whom he both worships and loathes. He is forced to defend himself against the very destiny that he is to fulfill. The mysteries of his ancestors are brought to light as he traverses the vast empire of his people's land in search of answers.