A/N: Sorry this took so long. Crazy busy and not in the fun way... ;)
A/N2: A big shout out to Aldaine! Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 20
Time seemed to slow as the arrows headed for Malik. Eugene realized he'd been holding his breath and that he for some reason he wasn't about to let it out. The arrows landed, one, two, and three. Amelia's aim was pretty good as the first arrow stuck the warlock in the stomach, the second was a little higher hitting his liver, and the third arrow drove itself into the pavement, tying Malik's cloak to it. Merlin quickly dropped to his knees next to the dying man as Malik gasped for breath.
"Doesn't feel so good does it?" Merlin smirked.
"You… bastard…" Malik managed to breathe.
"I've avenged my father and all those you've made suffer. Now how do I lift the spell off of Corona?" The younger man wanted to know. Malik spit at him out of defiance and with that last motion he passed from this world into the next.
"May there be no mercy for you," Merlin stood and waved to Amelia who immediately retreated down to the troops below. Then he loudly proclaimed,
"MALIK IS DEAD!" Cheers went up from the Coronians while the troops across the bay could not believe their master was truly gone. They stood there unsure of what to do. Merlin turned to the Generals and said,
"Burn his body and collect the ashes. Do it quickly." Immediately the General got their men to build a pyre out of whatever wood was laying around from damaged buildings. Hay from the stables was thrown onto the wood and the body along with it before it was ignited using hot oil and a torch. While they were doing that, Merlin used his magic and landed at the troops across the water.
"You are free now. Go home and live your lives as you wish to live them," he said to the man who stood at the head of the troops.
"Go home to what? We had nothing and the only thing we did have died with Malik," the man was angry.
"Surely you can go back and turn Malik's terrible kingdom into one of peace and prosperity. You can lead them," Merlin told him.
"Me? I lead the army. I know nothing of peasant life," the anger diminished somewhat but behind his eyes there was a fire Merlin easily identified as fear.
"The unknown is whatever you make of it. I have no say in the political process here in Corona. The King is sick and I must heal him. Then we can work out the details," the warlock explained.
"Very well," the man nodded. Merlin nodded back and cast a spell propelling him over the broken bridge and back to his comrades.
"So how'd it go?" Eugene wondered.
"They are completely on their own. Fear more than anything I think. Well I think we need to start the healing process. I must get to the King and the other sick people," the warlock said.
"I agree. We'll get things cleaned up and I'll go introduce myself to the newest members of the Coronian Empire," the Prince Consort smiled.
"Newest members? Ummm…" Merlin wasn't sure where this was going.
"Well we can't leave them out in the cold can we?" Eugene winked.
To Be Continued...