Voidwalker: Of the Line of Mer

By Christian Bullock

One second remains for the Age of the Condor as a Necromancer is determined to overcome his curse and settle the score with an old enemy. As he ventures into the unknown Void between the Physical Realms he must endure a trek through worlds that are hostile to life. The secrets that he finds force him to make desperate decisions. The Celestial Ages hang unbalanced as the Dark Dead bleed through the veil following the 'command' of a trecherous 'King'. Will the Necromancer, Champion of the Condor Age, free the worlds from tyranny?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329506039

Book preview

Voidwalker: Of the Line of Mer

Voidwalker: Of the Line of Mer

By Christian J. Bullock

Art Work and Illustration by Christian J. Bullock

© 2015 Ozzymodan.  All rights reserved.

1st Edition

© 2015 Christian J. Bullock.  All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-329-50603-9

Books by Christian J. Bullock:

Fiction

Deathstalker: Of the Line of Mer

Voidwalker: Of the Line of Mer

To my older sister Jen, we have been

through good days and sad days.  Thank you for

being there for me.  And also to those

who have sat at the place of colors.

Table of Contents

Voidwalker: Of the Line of Mer

Maps

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

Legend

Maps

Maps

Maps

Maps

Chapter One

A Line Drawn in the Sand

A white glow grew in his sight and the Yellow Light of Prayer Power receded back into his eye.  The whole of the world tilted on an axis and all was out of balance for several moments.  The world started to spin on this axis up and down as well as side to side.  It was nauseating.  The world was spinning around him and he had no control over it for it was the vibration of the Noc.  It could not be controlled by him.

Far beyond the edge of the world there was land.  This land was similar to the Barrens.  Little grew here and the dirt was yellow with sand.  In a place long forgotten by the world there stood a stone arch.  It was large and wide made of Diorite.  It was as old as time itself and it stood in this barren place.  All alone this forgotten stone arch stood with nothing to remember it.  The days of its use were but a fleeting handful.  None now remember its origin or its original purpose but that was all about to change.

In an instant a man appeared out of the stone arch.  He stumbled out of the doorway and fell face first into the yellow sand.  He was out of breath and he laid there at the foot of The Gate for several minutes.  Gathering his strength he got up and spied his surroundings.

Kvigr was somewhere he had never seen before.  It was a place that was strange.  It was otherworldly. 

Where am I, he asked the Spirits.

You are in The Void, the Goddess answered.  It is a place between the worlds.  It is a place far removed from time and space. 

The Necromancer looked around and saw The Abyss.  It was just beyond the landmass that he stood on.  It was dark red and glowed faintly.  High above there was a dim light that shined over the land.  There were no stars from what he could tell.  There was no way to tell time.  Beyond this landmass there were others in the distance.  They floated above The Abyss.  Kvigr could make out mountain ranges across the landmasses.  It looked as though the land had been pushed up and broken.  The land was uneven and hidden in darkness.  There was also a heat that he felt along with a cold.  A fire could be seen off in the distance somewhere beyond the tree line. 

Where am I, asked Kvigr again.

I just told you.  We are in The Void, said Kali.

Yes but what does that mean?  This place is not of the Earth.  I no longer see the Sun or the Stars.  What place could have no Sun and no Stars?

This is a place devoid of anything Earthly.  It is the space between.  It is just on the edge of the Physical Realm.  There are very few who know of its existence and even fewer who have ever seen it, answered Kali.

Well how did we get here?  Wait, what happened to the world as we left?  What happened to the Age of the Condor?

The volcano erupted and you escaped through a Portal.  The Age of the Condor was left in disorder.  The mountain basted ash for miles and miles.  All the people of the Age of the Condor were affected.  I do not know the full extent of it though.  There are other forces at work and the Celestial Gods do not act alone, said the Goddess.

But you must know?  You are a Goddess?  You must know all, replied the Necromancer.

Not every Celestial Being knows all Secret Keeper.  We know the Spirit Realm well and we know of the Ages of Man but not everything is revealed to us.  For instance now that the Devourer is defeated things have changed.  Everything has changed and the Age of the Condor continues.  The Prophecies have all been broken or fulfilled yet the Condor continues to rule.  Do you understand what I am saying, asked Kali.

Kvigr thought about it for a moment and then answered, I think I do.  I have changed the future and so now the future cannot be seen.  The Condor still rules which is good but it also means that the Celestial Gods have yet to judge mankind, and of course the ‘Kings’ of old still hold sway.  The Seventh ‘King’ that Samael was talking about still holds the world by his grip.

Yes that is right!  All of it is correct; I no longer have the foresight to predict the events of the Ages.  I do however have the foresight to guide you on your journey back, said Kali.

Where will this journey lead, ask the Necromancer.

It will lead you to the Age of the Jackal where you were destined to go.  You will have to go there before you can ever return to the Age of the Condor.  You must remember that you are a free man who has escaped the ravages of time.  You can go anywhere you wish.  The Celestial Gods will not stop you.  This freedom comes with a price and it is steep.  You will have to avoid certain dangers because you no longer have the Circle protecting you.  There is evil out there and uncounted missteps that may trap you into false reality.  You have already faced the Smoky Mirror but there are many more things in the universe that can trap you.  There are many beings that wish to be like you, free from the design.  You must resist them for they can posses the living and the dead.  They are called the Dark Dead and they exist in The Void.  Beware Secret Keeper, they know of your existence!  Many of the Spirits know of the coming of Samael.  You best follow my guidance if you are to make it through the Dimension Gauntlet.  Remember to follow the lights.

Kvigr took a deep breath.  He knew that he had been roped into another dilemma.  This freedom of Free Will was not going to be easy.  He was lost in time now and there was no turning back and no more repeats.  He had to make it through The Void as straight as an arrow. 

HeheheAhaha, cackled the unmistakable voice of Razor Hand.  You fool!  You have lead us into the very pit of non existence!  The Void is not a place for the living.  There is no life in The Void, only death.  The Dark Dead have their way with lost souls here and they are not kind to those who are free.  There is an Ancient saying that comes to mind, ‘It is better to be the Man in the Box, than to be a Man outside of the Box’.  You would do well to remember this the next time you go Portal Jumping.

Shhh, quiet unclean Spirit!  You are not to make Kvigr’s decisions for him.  You are a lowly Spirit and you shall not sway us from our course, shouted Kali.

Kali I think Razor Hand is right.  I did this.  I mean I started all of this Portal stuff and now I’m lost, said Kvigr.

No you are not lost Kvigr.  You have the lights to follow and you have me.  Do not let your fear get the better of you.  Do not let Razor Hand get the better of you.  You did what had to be done.  You are a brave soul and we will make it through the Dimension Gauntlet together, said Kali kindly.

Kvigr nodded to this and as he did so he saw the lights flash before his eyes.  Someone was coming towards him, a foreigner.  Kvigr took to his axe ‘the Blade’ and with his other hand he took out the Master Key.  The lights flashed again and he saw that the man approaching was black with white painted symbols all over his body.  He had a Staff that was also painted with white symbols.  This was a magician of sorts.

The black man walked quickly to The Gate and as he did so Kvigr hid behind the stone arch, carefully avoiding walking through it.  The black man quickly took his Staff and drew a line in the sand before the stone arch.  He began to whisper things under his breath.  Kvigr could not make it out.  He was only able to pick out the words: I hear the summons.  The lights flashed again and Kvigr knew what to do, he walked out from behind the stone arch.

You…You are here but how?  I hear the summons.  I hear the wind and it speaks to me.  You have wandered here from another world, Voidwalker.  What is it that you seek, asked the Witchdoctor.

I come from a world far away, it is known to my people as the Earth Mother.  I only seek a way back, said Kvigr.

Earth Mother! gasped the black man.  We come from the same place Voidwalker but you are different from me.  Why?

I do not know of what you speak, answered Kvigr.

Ho ho ho, you do not know?  Could it be that a Voidwalker does not know?  Could it be that a Voidwalker does not recognize the difference?  The black man laughed again.  He does not know the difference…he does not know the difference…ha ha ha!  This is good.  I hear the summons.  They whisper to me that you are a good man.  Are you a good man?

Yes I am a good man.  I am looking for a way back.  Do you know of one, asked Kvigr.

Oh no…no no no.  There is no going back Voidwalker.  Once you are a Voidwalker you are forever a Voidwalker.  There is only going forwards.  We walk forwards now.  The past is the past but we…we walk forwards.  The circle and the line have granted us this, said the black man.

The circle and the line, Kvigr mumbled to himself.  There was a thought here but it was buried beneath Samael deep in Kvigr’s mind. 

Yes yes, the circle and the line.  They govern all.  They are here, said the black man picking up grains of sand.  And they are there, said the black man pointing at the dim light above.  The circle and the line grant us everything but there are those who work against the circle and the line.  They are against the very things which give them shape and form and thought.  They try to swallow us all but they can not.  The circle and the line are forever.  Voidwalker you must know of this…I hear the summons and they say that you do.

The circle and the line, Kvigr mumbled to himself again.  He knew that Samael had all the answers to this but he refused to allow this personality to surface.  Samael was too powerful.  He was too knowledgeable.  If he surfaced Kvigr may be stuck in limbo.

Yes, yes, the circle and the line.  They are all part of the universe.  They are part of every design.  The black man took his Staff and drew a circle in the sand.  Then he drew a line next to the circle.  Look at them for they are the secret rulers which govern everything.

Kvigr still did not understand this so he walked up to the Witchdoctor to get a closer look at the symbols and was struck down when he tried to walk over the line that was drawn in the sand.  Ho ho ho, you see…you see?  The circle and the line have heard me.  They hear of all my Spells.  Are you alright Voidwalker?  If you were a Dark Dead you would have been banished.  The line drawn in the sand is the way that you defeat the Dark Dead.  Remember that Voidwalker, said the Witchdoctor.

Kvigr saw the lights flash before his eyes as he lay on the ground.  He was going to need to remember how to do that.  The lights showed him that this Witchdoctor was to become his friend.  They were to help each other out.  Kvigr saw them facing down the evil of the Dark Dead together.  Then he saw them walking amongst armies of steam machines and mechanical constructs.  Then he saw them facing off against his dreaded enemy the Smoky Mirror.  The lights showed him all of this.  His life flashed before his eyes and all manner of fear that he had drained away.  The Jackal would not abandon him.  Nor would Kali abandon him.  He had a special path laid out before him and by the freedom of Free Will he was determined to carry it out.

As he snapped back to reality Kvigr looked up to see the Witchdoctor rub out the line in the sand.  I hear the summons.  The Witchdoctor turned to the circle and line drawn in the sand and walked through an invisible doorway.  In an instant he was gone just like that.  Kvigr got to his feet and proceeded to follow the Witchdoctor through the Portal but as he walked up to the circle and the line in the sand he did not disappear.  The seemingly open doorway was sealed some how.  Kvigr was unable to use the circle and the line as a Portal.

Oh no, Kvigr thought to himself.  I just missed an opportunity to befriend this magician.  Little did he know of how mysterious this Witchdoctor was.

It’s alright Kvigr we will find him again, said Kali.

Do you really think so?

I Know so, she replied.

Chapter Two

The Dragon of the Abyss

They trekked what looked to be northward towards the place in The Void where there looked to be Fire.  The lights flashed before him illuminating the way.  This was the right path to follow.  The lights shined like little balls in mid air, hovering over the yellow sand.  The balls of light glowed in the dimness of the Void.  They lead past small shrubs and bushes and thorns.  There were a few small hills along the lighted path but for the most part the land was flat. 

Darkness crept upon the Necromancer as he walked towards the fire.  The sky above was not a sky at all but a dim swirl of purple and blue.  Small openings in the swirls glowed giving feeble light to see the land ahead.  The lights shined through a thin part of the land that leads to the fire.  Sparse trees sprang up creating a tree line but these were not living trees.  They were petrified.  All the trees were frozen in time dead to the land that they sprang from.  This could not be called a forest because there was no life.  The trees were like stone, cold and solid.  In this patch of land the yellow sands were the only thing that moved. 

The Necromancer followed the glowing balls that were the lights down passed the dead trees to the firelight that came from the sand.  He had made it pass the tree line to the firelight that he had seen in the distance upon entering through the gate.  This place was strange.  He could not tell how far he had traveled.  There was no sense of time here nor was there a sense of distance.  Everything was close, within sight and within reach, yet far away at the same time.  There was however the sense of darkness as he approach the firelight.

Where are you going, asked the firelight.

Kvigr did not know how to respond to such a question and the lights gave him no answers.  Kali waited patiently at his side.  She was unwilling to interfere in this encounter.  All the spirits were quiet. 

Kvigr thought carefully before answering the firelight, I am trying to find my way back to my World.

You do not understand, replied the voice questioningly.

No I do not understand, said Kvigr to the firelight.

Whom do you serve?

I serve the Jackal and the other Celestial Gods.

Are you a free man or are you a slave?

I am free.  I have Free Will and it is the only truth that I know.

Then you are welcomed here Voidwalker, replied the firelight.

With that a giant figure rose out of the flames.  It was as large as a tree and as brightly orange as the sun at sunset.  It was a Dragon, scaly and spiny.  The Dragon had two horns on its head and small spines along its chin.  It had webbing on its ears along with more spines.  Its eyes were radiant with Yellow.  Upon its forehead there was a large six pointed crystal that seemed permanently embedded into its skull.  The crystal shined a bright blue and there seemed to be a radiant blue fog coming off it.  It was magical.  The Dragon had two large wings of a bat and it had pairs of legs and arms.  It also had a long tail with an unusual point that looked like a trident.  Its long scaly neck bent down and its head moved to get a closer look at the Necromancer.

You are in good company Voidwalker.  Do not let my appearance fool you; I am not a cruel beast!  To enemies I am terror but to friends I am gentle.  You Voidwalker are one of the Fey!  Or are you not?

I am Fey though I do not know how it is that I am Fey, replied the Necromancer.

I can sense the Fey in you.  I can sense those who joined with you under a full moon.  Yes I understand how it would be confusing to you.  The Fey are magic.  The Fey are nature.  The Fey are ancient.  The Fey are the Dragon!

Kvigr wondered about whom he might be speaking to and asked, So you are Fey?

I am a Dragon am I not?  Aren’t all Dragons Fey?

I am not quite sure.  I know of beings that can change their appearance.  Shape Shifters who could be anything really, even a tree.  They would be Fey too except that they may be slaves of the Smoky Mirror or something greater.

Ah yes that is a good answer.  There are creatures that do have the power to mimic the Fey.  But you know only of the Smoky Mirror and the Imps?  Am I correct?

Yes but how did you know of the Imps?

I read your mind and I saw an image of them and the Smog Kids.  True Dragons can read minds.  And I am a True Dragon.

But if you already know, Kvigr began…

The questions still need to be asked and the answers still need to be given.  This remains the case among all mind readers, for it is the choice of answer that needs to be understood.  There is always the significance of ones choice.  Do you understand what I am talking about Voidwalker?

Yes I understand.  I have seen choices made under false pretenses and under false intent.

Yes you have!  I can see it in your mind, a century of lifetimes living the lie. But you have made it through such a dark thing to know of.  You are strong, a hero even, a Champion of Old!  You have my respect Voidwalker and the respect of all of my kin.  I am the one you are seeking here and now.  I am a Fey of the Coven of the Fire Fang.  We seek the Dragon, we become the Dragon, we are the Dragon, and so the Dragon speaks through us.

I know of the Covens of the Fey… Kvigr began to think back to the Covens that he knew of or had heard of.  He thought back to the Ancient texts of the Necromancers where Cy Maximus wrote it all down.  He always had trouble recalling all of the Covens that were mentioned by the text.  He had honestly glossed over it at the time.  It had seemed like unintelligible names to him.  The text about the Master Key was more important to him at the time.

There is The Bear, the Bat, and the Wolf.  That is one Fey Coven.  They helped me and offered Sanctuary to me.

Are you a member of this Coven, asked the Dragon.

Yes.  They told me that I was a member but I actually know very little about it.  They are very different from the other Covens.  They don’t exactly show themselves or interfere in the lives of men.

Good, good…they are wise then.  It is best for the Fey to keep to them selves.  In fact if you were not Fey I would not be talking to you.  What other Covens of the Fey do you know of?

I know of The Blood Fang… Kvigr began.

Yes I can see it in your mind.  They are a vicious bunch.  They seek to dominate all men and even some of their fellow Fey.  The Wicked Path is their Faith?  Is it not?  What do you think of this belief?

Kvigr was shocked at how calmly this question was asked.  This Dragon seemed quite at ease reading his thoughts and even the darker ones.  His gentle tone made it seem as though they were talking of pleasantries when in reality they were talking of some very dark things.

I despise them!  They would use people as puppets for some twisted purpose!  They would and have enslaved nations!  They would suck the life out of everything and everyone but then afterwards turn back the Circle and do the very same things over again!  It is misery!  That is what The Wicked Path is pure misery!

Puppets? Hmm…and what about the Celestial Gods?  Do they not use people as Puppets?  Are they not doing the very same thing when they turn back the Circle?  Are they not deciding the fate of nations, asked the Dragon.

Kvigr was struck by this.  He did not think that he would have to answer for the Celestial Gods interference and judgment on the peoples of each Age.  The Dragon also asked these questions with the same gentle calm as he did with the previous questions.

They are not the same!  It would look as though they are doing the same thing but they are not!  There are many great lengths that they would go to just to ensure the Survival of man, or of any out come, but they do not interfere in such a way!  They would let a chance out come present itself when that time comes because they believe in Free Will.  They would let a century of lifetimes pass if it meant that by chance a positive lifetime or Age lay just over the horizon, roared the Necromancer.  They do not play games for fun.  They simply do what they can to ensure that the Circle is never broken.  We are simply meant to make the best out of the Circle that we are given.

Good, good…it is very wise of you to discover the difference.  There are some who never know of what you have just told me.  There are some who do not even know the Circle.  To hear these words spoken aloud is like thunder to all the enemies of Free Will.  To hear these words spoken aloud is like a secret mantra that heals the soul.  Remember that Voidwalker.  Remember the secret mantra ‘We are simply meant to make the best out of the Circle that we are given’.  This may be known as The Seeker’s Path for it is the path that leads to many truths.  It is the path that those with the Sight seek to find.

The Seeker’s Path… Kvigr whispered under his breath.

Yes, you now understand the question?  Where are you going?

I think I understand.  I am in search for something, answered Kvigr.

Ah…not quite.  Where are you going Voidwalker? thundered the Dragon.

Where ever the lights take me… replied Kvigr astonishingly.

And whom do you serve? thundered the Dragon again.

The Jackal and the other Celestial Gods… replied Kvigr astonished once again at the simplicity of the answer.

There, you now have the answers that you seek.  You now know truths that were hidden in your mind, spoke the Dragon calmly and encouragingly.

How is it that you can calmly talk about such things so lightly?  I feel things when I talk about…those things, said Kvigr.

Humph…the Dragon hummed to himself.  Then he gazed at the Necromancer unblinkingly for several moments.  Sensing something he straightened up his long neck and spoke.  When you have lived as long as I have and seen as much as I have you will understand much.  If you could read the minds of those you come across you would understand even more. 

That must be a terrible gift, replied the Necromancer.

Gifts are only terrible if one dwells on the negativity that they bring for far too long, answered the True Dragon.  Light and dark exist everywhere it is easy to get polarized into negativity if you never see the good in life.

Spoken like a True Dragon… whispered Kenaz from beyond the veil.

You have a companion with you that is of the Bear Tribe.  He will guide you well but only if you let him, responded the Dragon. 

The Necromancer looked around for the Spirit of Kenaz but couldn’t see him in the flickering firelight.  In fact all of his spirits remained hidden from his sight.

Do not worry Voidwalker they choose to leave us in a one on one conversation.  It is as important for you as it is for me.  Come now there are things that you will need to learn from me if you are to survive on the journey ahead.  Are you ready to become?

Become?  Become what, asked Kvigr.

To be a being that exists even in the Void.  To be a being that is a part of a whole.  To be a being that need only breathe to be alive, replied the True Dragon.

Breathe…I think that… started Kvigr before he was interrupted by the Dragon.

I already know Voidwalker.  Your answer is yes.  I know your thoughts and the uttering of a word gives me great joy! exclaimed the True Dragon with passion.

A flash of shadow passed and the True Dragon began to shrink.  Its body vanished into a man with blonde hair who stood a little taller than Kvigr.

You can Shape Shift?

Yes just like all True Dragons and Fey.

Kvigr looked at this man with astonished eyes.  He looked as though he were Kvigr’s age, still youthful.  The clothes that he wore were similar to that of a Free Ranger.  He could pass as a man from Kvigr’s own time.  Like a Man from the Age of the Condor. 

You may call me Ansuz, said the Dragon.

Kvigr nodded at this but before he said anything the True Dragon took out leaf of Sage and petal of a Lotus flower. 

Here Voidwalker take this.  Now sit by the fire light so we may begin.

Kvigr understood the seriousness of Ansuz’s voice.  This was a teacher and this was the voice of a master.  Kvigr sat by the fire light and waited for the lesson to begin.

Chapter Three

The Breath of Life

The Dragon was pushing, pushing so hard that Kvigr felt as though his innards would burst.  The push was with the mind.  Kvigr knew that he must master his fear if he would make it in the Void.  The fear was that of flesh.  The Dragon’s push was to make the mind stronger than that fear of flesh.  Kvigr pushed all thoughts out of his head except for the memory of the lesson that he had just been taught.

What felt like merely moments before Ansuz counseled him on the ways of the Void.  The Void was not limitless to the person living in the Void.  In fact all things in the Void would eventually die if they did not know of a way to overcome exhaustion.  Since the Void is out of bounds to the physical realms the things that exist in the Void tend to be dead things.  There are a few walkers that have passed through the Void throughout eternity.  They know of portals.  The Void is where you end up if you are lost.  There are however many ways to return to the physical realms for all physical realms touch the Void. 

Ansuz was quick with his speech and seemed to want Kvigr to simply be aware of his predicament.   I shall now show you the way to survive exhaustion Voidwalker.  It will not be easy by any means but you have come this far.  Also I have strong intuition, I believe in you…I believe you can make the right choice…

*****

Here Voidwalker take this, said the True Dragon.  Hold them in your hand tightly, and then bring them to your chest slowly.  Then bring them to your mouth slowly.  Then smell them with your nose.  Feel with your senses then bring them to the bridge of your brow.  Sense them here.  Then stare out with your eyes at the fire.  Then stare out with your eyes at the horizon.  Sense them here.  Now bring them to your forehead and reach out with your mind.  Sense them here.  Feel with your mind; touch them with your mind.  Now just breathe slowly, just breathe deeply.  Be in slow rhythm within yourself.  Remember this Voidwalker.

Kvigr did as he was told and after doing so he felt calmness.  He knew of such things from the plainsmen but this calmness was a bit different.  It had something to do with the Lotus petal.  That smell was something that was new. 

You sense it Voidwalker so now you need to practice without the Sage or the Lotus, said the Dragon.  Let me have these back for they do not grow in the Void.  They will be needed at a chance encounter.

Kvigr did not quite know what Ansuz meant by this but he handed them back to the True Dragon.  There was some sense of loss when he gave them back but it was only momentary and it was not like the sensation he felt with the Noc.  The Noc was an unbalanced sensation and a feeling of weightlessness.  This was more of a fleeting of gentle calm. 

Now that you have opened yourself it is time to become, said the Dragon.

Become with what, asked Kvigr.

Why become with the Dragon of course, said Ansuz.

What is the Dragon exactly?  Why am I becoming with the Dragon, asked Kvigr curiously.

You know of the Celestial Gods, the Dragon is the Fey’s Goddess.  Now why do you think that is?

Well the Age of the Dragon gave rise to the Fey, answered Kvigr.

Yes but what is the Dragon really?  Do you know?  Can you guess?

I do not understand…

"Yes you do not know few but the Fey know the Dragon.  It will take time for you to get to know the Dragon.  It takes a long time but then you have plenty of time to learn this.  There is no need to rush, there