Can you help me find this book?!?!?

there's a book i read back in middle school, but i can't for the life of me remember what it's called!! so i'm hoping one of you can tell me!!! it's Dragon something...lol
i remember a young woman with the ability to to talk to animals. i think she may have called it a Gift. anyway, she and her little brother are on the run because the king wants to use all people with a Gift in his army or something. as far as she konws her brother does not have a Gift. they stumble to a house owned by a man who wears gloves all the time because direct contact causes him to see your death. he may have had a young daughter and his wife is dead. oh! and it turns out the herine's younger brother has a Gift. the gift of Persuasion which he's been using on her the whole time. he betrays her and goes to work for the king i believe...

sorry if this is confusing!!! i really want to find this book!!! thanks for you help!