Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Arthas’sownfamilywasclose-knit—he,hissister,Calia,hismother,QueenLianne,andofcourseKingTerenas.He’dseenhowsomerulersbehavedwiththeirfamilies,andknewthathiswasremarkableinthedegreeofcloseness.Tohavelostyourcity,yourwayoflife,andyourfather—

           "PoorVarian,"hesaid,quicktearsofsympathycomingtohiseyes.

           Utherpattedhisshoulderawkwardly."Aye,"hesaid."Itisadarkdayfortheboy."

           Arthasshiveredsuddenly,andnotfromthecoldofabrightwinter’sday.Thebeautifulafternoon,withitsblueskyandsoftlycurvingsnow-drapedlandscape,hadsuddenlydarkenedforhim.

           Afewdayslater,Arthaswasstandinguponthecastle’sramparts,keepingFalric,oneoftheguards,companyandhandinghimasteaminghotmugoftea.Suchavisit,liketheonesArthaspaidtotheBalnirfamilyandthecastle’sscullerymaidsandvaletsandblacksmithsandindeednearlyeveryunderlingontheroyalgrounds,wasnotunusual.Terenasalwayssighed,butArthasknewthatnoonewaseverpunishedforspeakingwithhim,andindeedhesometimeswonderedifhisfathersecretlyapproved.

           Falricsmiledgratefullyandboweddeeplyingenuinerespect,pullingoffhisgauntletssothemugwouldwarmhiscoldhands.Snowthreatened,andtheskywasapalegray,butthusfartheweatherwasclear.Arthasleanedagainstthewall,restinghischinonhisfoldedarms.