Bardic voices

When something is obviously wrong with the High King, and the Church becomes increasingly hostile towards nonhumans, Nightingale and her friends join forces with T'Tyrr, a birdman.

Rune, the daughter of a tavern wench, backs up a brag by going to play for the Ghost of Skull Hill. When the ghost appears, Rune proposes that if he tires of her playing before morning, her life is forfeit, but if she can hold his attention till dawn, she earns her life and a sack of silver.

When Constable Tal Rufen notices a pattern in a series of brutal murders and is fired for his alertness, he travels to Kingston and appeals to High Bishop Ardis for her sponsorship. As a secret Grand Inquisitor, Tal hopes to find out why someone is killing female musicians and how magic and the Church are linked to the crimes.

While traveling the open road together, Robin, a gypsy bard, and Kestrel, heir to a throne he does not want, try to tame a killer ghost and also foil a plot to drive all music from the land.