book 1, By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson

Achan has the lowest position in Er’Rets, a stray. All he has ever done is milk goats and chop potatoes. Sir Gavin, an old Kingsguard knight offers to secretly train him as his squire. But during the Prince Gidon’s coming of age celebration, Achan finds that he has an unusual gift, bloodvoicing, an ability to talk to people from clear across the kingdom using their mind. The Prince takes Achan as his squire on the road to Mahanaim where trouble follows Achan all the way.

Vrell Sparrow has been running from Prince Gidon who wants control of Carm. She has found that she can bloodvoice. A greedy old man in Mahanaim has sensed her and has sent two New Kingsguard knights too fetch her. She encounters unpleasant adventures throughout the journey, and some take place in caves. Soon after she arrives, she is sent to help a solider who her master wishes to train in bloodvoiceing.

Their worlds collide when Vrell brings Achan to the Mahanaim dungeons where she tends his wounds. When Sir Gavin rescues Achan, everything is turned around in Achan’s world.

A great introduction to a great series. It introduces the characters so that you become attached to them. Politics and action, secrets and discovery, this is a great book.