A wave of agony exploded in his mind, so sharp it felt like his skull was splitting.
The force of the impact sent his body flying backward, tumbling through the air before he crashed to the ground a good distance away.
The pain, however, had a clarifying effect, cutting through the fog of battle and sharpening his focus.
He looked down.
Embedded deep in his right shoulder, an arrow shaft still vibrated from the tremendous force behind the shot. Blood pulsed from the wound, staining his tunic a dark, wet crimson.
"Hah! Ethan, isn't it? Thought you were so tough? Come on, then! What's wrong?" Alaric's mocking voice cut through the air. "Does this hurt you? Heh... just imagine how you'll feel watching me defile her."
As he spoke, Alaric shifted his longbow to his right hand. With a casual left-handed gesture, he used a burst of energy to yank the unconscious Amber Zane through the air from where she lay, dumping her unceremoniously onto a stone table nearby.
