The Nightrunner Series is a multi-part series of heroic fantasy novels by American writer Lynn Flewelling. It currently contains seven novels and a collection of related short stories.
'Nightrunning' refers to espionage, the principal occupation of the series' two protagonists, Seregil and Alec. The books also explore sexuality and gender roles, presenting a world where bi- and homosexuality are as accepted as heterosexuality, as well as a realm (Skala) which is ruled by Queens rather than Kings, and in whose army women warriors have a major role.
The series has been published by Bantam Spectra and Del Rey Books. Both companies are owned by Random House, Inc.
A prequel trilogy titled The Tamir Triad, written by Flewelling, takes place centuries beforehand.
Synopsis Luck in the Shadows
Seregil rescues Alec, a poor orphaned hunter mistakenly arrested for spying. After hiring Alec to guide him through the Northern Lands, Seregil notes Alec's quick learning ability and fast hands, and offers him a job as his apprentice. Alec, though wary of Seregil at first due to his suspicion that Seregil is a thief or spy, accepts the offer. They fall into a mystery that involves the fast deterioration of Seregil's mind and sanity, and Alec must find a way to save his new teacher and friend. Alec manages to deliver Seregil into the hands of Nysander, a wizard of Skala, but the mystery only deepens. At the same time, a traitorous plot against the Queen seems to be unfolding, and Seregil must solve it quickly before he is found guilty of treason himself.
Stalking Darkness
The seemingly harmless wooden disc that nearly caused Seregil's death and loss of sanity in Luck in the Shadows is revealed to be part of a broken, evil helm belonging to the 'Eater of Death', a forsaken god named Seriamaius. A plan to retrieve all the pieces of the helm is attempted by a Plenimaran, Mardus, who wishes to use it to conquer Skala and Mycena and rule over the three lands. A prophecy long foretold takes place, and Seregil has to kill his mentor, Nysander, in order to destroy the helm. In the last paragraphs of the book, Seregil, and Alec admit romantic feelings for one another.
Traitor's Moon
Seregil and Alec are sent to Aurënen, Seregil's homeland, with Princess Klia, in a Skalan delegation to ask for open ports, warriors and supplies in the deepening war between Skala and Plenimar, but the attempted murder of the Princess means trouble. Seregil and Alec must unravel the mystery before all chance of a treaty is ruined. At the same time, Seregil must readjust himself to the country he was exiled from more than thirty years previously.
Glimpses
A collection of short stories, including the story of how Seregil, Nysander, and Micum all meet.
Shadows Return
Seregil and Alec are kidnapped by Zengati slave traders and bought by a Plenimaran alchemist. Using Alec's unique blood as a half-Northerner, half-hâzadriëlfaie, the alchemist intends to create a creature called a rhekaro, who appears to be a young child and yet is decidedly inhuman. Seregil eventually escapes with Alec and Sebrahn, while coming to terms with his own past as he reunites with a former lover and enemy.
The White Road
Having escaped death and slavery in Plenimar, Seregil and Alec want nothing more than to go back to their nightrunning life in Rhíminee. Instead, they find themselves saddled with Sebrahn, a strange, alchemically created creature—the prophesied "child of no woman". Its moon-white skin and frightening powers make it a danger to all whom Seregil and Alec come into contact with, leaving them no choice but to learn more about Sebrahn's true nature. But what then? With the help of old friends and Seregil's clan, the pair sets out to discover the truth about this living homunculus—a journey that can lead only to danger... or death. For Seregil's old nemesis Ulan í Sathil of Virèsse and Alec's own long-lost kin (Hâzadrielfaie) are after them, intent on possessing both Sebrahn and Alec. On the run and hunted, Alec and his friends must fight against time to accomplish their most personal mission ever.
Casket of Souls More than the dissolute noblemen they appear to be, Alec and Seregil are skillful spies, dedicated to serving queen and country. But when they stumble across evidence of a plot pitting Queen Phoria against Princess Klia, the two Nightrunners will find their loyalties torn as never before. Even at the best of times, the royal court at Rhíminee is a serpents' nest of intrigue, but with the war against Plenimar dragging on interminably, treason simmers just below the surface. And that is not all that poses a threat: A mysterious plague is spreading through the crowded streets of the city, striking young and old alike. Now, as panic mounts and the body count rises, secrets emerge. And, as Seregil and Alec are about to learn, conspiracies and plagues have one thing in common: the cure can be as deadly as the disease.
Shards of Time The last novel in the series. The governor of the sacred island of Kouros and his wife have been killed inside a locked and guarded room. The sole witnesses to the crime—guards who broke down the door, hearing the screams from within—have gone mad with terror, babbling about ghosts... and things worse than ghosts. Dispatched to Kouros by the queen, master spies Alec and Seregil find all the excitement and danger they could want—and more. For an ancient evil has been awakened there, a great power that will not rest until it has escaped its prison and taken revenge on all that lives. And our heroes must find a way to stop it and save those they hold most dear... or die trying.
Characters Seregil í Korit Solun Meringil Bôkthersa Seregil is one of the protagonists and a full-blooded Aurënfaie. He is 57 at the beginning of the series, but looks 25 because of his people's long lifespan though according to him he would be not much older than Alec if human and has not yet reached the age of maturity. He is described as medium height and fair-skinned with grey eyes and dark brown hair.
After being seduced by Ilar í Sontir into breaking atui during a treaty and accidentally killing a man, he is exiled to Skala by the rhui'auros request where he becomes a Watcher, a spy in the queen's service. As a Watcher, he has many personas: Aren Windover, a bard known in the north; Lord Seregil of Rhíminee, a noble in Skalan court; the Rhíminee Cat, a burglar for nobles of the Skalan court in Luck in the Shadows.
Seregil is a skilled lover and has had numerous sexual relations with both men and women—though with a clear preference for men. However, he did not find real love until meeting Alec.
Alec í Amasa Alec is the son of Amasa and Ireya ä Shaar, He is a ya'shel because of his mother's Hâzadrielfaie blood and his father's human blood. A boy of sixteen at the beginning of the series, he is described as being very like Seregil in size, not tall, slender, blond and blue-eyed. Because of his looks and his conservative Dalnan upbringing, he is generally perceived as naive and innocent, though he shows great intelligence and cunning over the books.
He is captured and thrown in prison where he meets Seregil. After Seregil helps him escape he contracts Alec to guide him to Wolde. Impressed by Alec's talent and intelligence, he asks Alec to be his apprentice and learn "the acquisition of goods and information".
Cavish Family Micum Cavish A master swordsman and dear friend of Seregil who met Seregil years before the events of Luck in the Shadows. At the beginning of the series he is in his forties. Already settled down with a family of three, later four children and a foster son, he does not always accompany Seregil on his adventures. Micum himself is a Watcher and father of Beka, Elsbet, Illia and Gherin. At the end of Stalking Darkness, he and his wife Kari adopt Luthas.
Kari Cavish She is married to Micum and mother of Beka, Elsbet, Illia, Gherin and later, Luthas. She runs the farm and house at Watermead since Micum is almost always away. She used to have a rivalry with Seregil, since they were both in love with Micum at the same time, and since he used to arrive and steal Micum away on Watcher business for months at a time, but Micum chose her. Seregil is like a brother to Micum now, and Kari like a sister, or sometimes a mother.
Beka ä Kari Thallia Grelenda of Watermead Eldest daughter of Micum and Kari, she is a Commander in the Queen's Horse Guard. She is held in high regard by Commander Klia and the officers under her. A major love interest of hers is Nyal in Traitor's Moon—later her husband. She is skilled with a bow, a sword, close quarters combat and tracking, and is a devious tactician, as she learned from her father. She becomes a Watcher in Traitor's Moon.
Elsbet Cavish Second oldest daughter of the Cavish family, she is interested in knowledge and literature. With Lord Seregil's help, she becomes an initiate studying at Illior's temple in Skala.
Illia Cavish Youngest daughter of the Cavish family, she is the most "ladylike" and interested in marriage and running a home and the court, out of all the sisters. After her older sisters leave home, she helps her mother with Luthas and Gherin and running the household. She was named after Seregil's mother. In Casket of Souls, her life is in grave danger, and she is saved by her father and his companions with great effort and risk.
Gherin Cavish Born at the end of Stalking Darkness, he is named by Seregil Gherin, which means 'early blessing' in Aurënfaie.
Wizards Nysander Nysander is the last disciple and heir of Arkoniel and guardian of the necromancer Helm. He is described as kind and eccentric. Thero is his apprentice—Nysander being disappointed with Thero's often cold and arrogant attitude, but nevertheless regards him as having great potential (which in fact would be realized only after Nysander's death).
He was the first to befriend Seregil after his exile from Aurënen and offered him an apprenticeship at the Orëska House. When that did not work, he hired him as a Watcher, one of the spies under his command.
In Stalking Darkness, Nysander requests (indeed demands and orders) Seregil to kill him—as that is the only way to finally destroy the evil Helm. After this he appears twice more in visions to offer guidance.
Thero í Procepios Thero is a wizard who was Nysander's apprentice after Seregil. At first he and Seregil are bitter rivals, but become more respectful of each other after the events of Stalking Darkness. Originally cold and arrogant, his character gradually changes and he strives to emulate the generous character of the dead Nysander. He becomes head of the Watchers after Nysander's death. He and Princess Klia fall in love with each other—the first ever relationship between a wizard and a member of the Skalan Royal family—and at the end of Shards of Time, they have a baby daughter, the first known case of a wizard having a child (made possible by a magical dragon biting Thero).
Magyana A powerful Wizard of the Third Oreska and once Nysander's love interest, and his soul mate, despite her being celibate and him taking other women as lovers. After Nysander's death, she takes over Thero's apprenticeship.
Skalan Royal Family Queen Idrilain the Second Mother of Klia and Phoria and Queen of Skala at the beginning of the series. Mortally wounded by a Plenimaran arrow, she holds on long enough to send Princess Klia on the vital mission to re-establish relations with Aurënen—since she does not trust Phoria, her eldest daughter and heir, to do it.
Queen Phoria