Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Hetookherfarawayfromthecityandalongstretchesofgreen,expansivemeadows.Thehorsesseemedtobeenjoyingthemselvesasmuchastheirriders,theirearsprickedforwardandtheirnostrilsflaringastheyinhaledtherichscents.

           Thepicnicwassimplebutdeliciousfare—bread,cheese,fruit,somelightwhitewine.Arthaslayback,foldinghisarmsbehindhishead,anddozedforabitwhileJainakickedoffherboots,diggingherfeetintothethick,softgrassasshesatwithherbacktoatree,andreadforawhile.Thebookwasinteresting—ATreatiseontheNatureofTeleportation—butthelanguidheatoftheday,thevigorousexercise,andthesofthumofcicadasservedtolullhertosleepaswell.

           Jainaawokesometimelaterslightlychilled;thesunwasstartingtogodown.Shesatup,knucklingthesleepoutofhereyes,torealizethatArthaswasnowheretobeseen.Norwashishorse.Herowngelding,reinsdrapedaboutatreebranch,grazedcontentedly.

           Frowning,shegottoherfeet."Arthas?"Therewasnoanswer.Likelyhehadjustdecidedtogoforaquickexplorationandwouldbebackanymoment.Shestrainedtolistenforthesoundofhoofbeats,buttherewerenone.

           Therewerestillorcsloose,wanderingaround.Orsotherumorswent.Andmountaincatsandbears—lessalienbutnolessdangerous.MentallyJainawentoverherspellsinhermind.Shewassureshe’dbeabletodefendherselfifshewasattacked.

           Well—fairlysure.