I am looking for a story I remember reading in the mid-90s. I can't remember if it was a trilogy or just a three part book, but I know it was in paperback book form. I also know it was found in the Young Adult section of the library at that time.
The general premise was that there had been some sort of war in the past and machines were outlawed. People visited priests who used magic. I remember that the main character discovers that the priest aren't using magic but are actually using machines.
I can also remember the main character ends up leaving the nation he is in and ends up in a neighboring nation where machines are allowed. I remember there being a scene where he watches a "movie" which I think was more like an old fashioned moving picture.
For some reason I keep wanting to tie this whole thing back to a sword, or blue sword, or something like that, but I might be mixing stories. Other things I keep linking to it: the character was in training to be a priest, he was forced to leave, he ended up using the neighboring nation to conquer his homeland. Again, still not sure if I am mixing things but they keep popping up.
I do know that it is not The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, or its prequel, The Hero and the Crown.