Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Theydidnotshirkfromtheundead—Jaina,whodespiteherbone-wearinesshadalsoportaledinwithUtherandtheknights,hadapparentlybriefedthemsufficientlysothatprecioussecondswerenotwastedinstunnedreaction.Theundeadfellmorequicklynow,andeachwavewasmetwithfierceandimpassionedattacksfromhammer,sword,andflame.

           Jainasankdown,herlegsgivingwaybeneathher,asthelastofthewalkingdeadburstintoflames,stumbledabout,andfell,deadintruth.Shereachedforawaterskinanddrankdeeply,shaking,andfishedoutsomedriedmeattognawon.Thefightwasover—forthemoment.ArthasandUtherhadbothremovedtheirhelms.Sweatmattedtheirhair.ShechewedonthemeatandwatchedasUtherlookedoutovertheseaofundeadcorpsesandnoddedhissatisfaction.Arthaswasstaringatsomething,hisexpressionstricken.Jainafollowedhisgazeandfrowned,notunderstanding.Corpseswereeverywhere—butArthaswaslookingalmostasifinadazeatthebloated,fly-riddledbodyofnotoneofhissoldiers,orevenaman,butofahorse.

           UtherwalkeduptohisstudentandclappedArthasontheshoulder.

           "I’msurprisedthatyoukeptthingstogetheraslongasyoudid,lad."Hisvoicewaswarmwithprideandasmilewasonhislips."IfIhadn’tarrivedjustthen—"

           Arthaswhirled."Look,IdidthebestIcould,Uther!"BothUtherandJainablinkedattheharshtoneofvoice.Hewasoverreacting—Utherwasn’tcensuringhim;hewaspraisinghim.