Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Thetwomenwhohadbeensentintoparleyhadbeenkilled,theirhorsesreturningriderlessinawordless,brutalmessage.

           "Let’sgetinthereanddestroythebeasts!"he’dcried,theweaponhehadbeengivenathisinitiationintotheSilverHandglowingbrightly.HewouldhavechargedinimmediatelyhadnotUtherplacedarestraininghandonhisarm.

           "Remember,Arthas,"hehadsaid,hisvoicecalm,"wearepaladins.Vengeancecannotbeapartofwhatwemustdo.Ifweallowourpassionstoturntobloodlust,thenwewillbecomeasvileastheorcs."

           Thewordspenetratedtheanger—somewhat.Arthashadclenchedhisteeth,watchingasthefrightenedhorses,theirridersbutchered,wereledaway.Uther’swordswerewisdom,butArthasfelthehadfailedthemenwho’dbeenonthosehorses.Failedthem,justashe’dfailedInvincible,andnowtheywereasdeadasthatgreatbeast.Hetookadeep,steadyingbreath."Yes,Uther."

           Hiscalmnesshadbeenrewarded—Utherhadchargedhimwithleadingtheattack.Ifonlyhe’dbeenintimetosavethosethreepoormen.

           Agentlehandonhisarmcalledhimbacktothepresent,andwithoutthinking,outofoldhabit,hecoveredJaina’shandwithhisown.Shestartedtopullaway,thengavehimaslightlystrainedsmile.

           "It’ssovery,verygoodtoseeyouagain,"hesaidimpulsively.

           Hersmilesoftened,becamegenuine,andshesqueezedhisarm."You,too,YourHighness.