Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Besidehimstoodanoldmaninvioletrobes.

           Arthas’sgazefellontheboywhocouldonlybePrinceVarianWrynn.Tall,slenderyetbutwithbroadshouldersthatpromisedtheslimframewouldonedayfillout,helookedpaleandexhausted.Arthaswincedasheregardedtheyouth,afewyearsolderthanhe,lookinglost,alone,andfrightened.Whenaddressed,Varianrecoveredandgavethepoliterequisitereplies.Terenaswasanoldhandatknowinghowtomakepeoplefeelcomfortable.Quicklyhedismissedallbutafewcourtiersandguardsandrosefromhisthronetogreetthevisitors.

           "Please,beseated,"hesaid,choosingnottositinthegloriousthroneaswashisrightbutinsteadperchingonthetopstairofthedais.HedrewVariandownbesidehiminafatherlygesture.Arthassmiled.

           Hiddenaway,theyoungprinceofLordaeronwatchedandlistenedclosely,andthevoicesthatfloateduptohimspokewordsthatsoundedalmostfanciful.YetasheregardedthismightywarriorofStormwind—andevenmore,ashestudiedthewanvisageofthefuturekingofsuchamagnificentrealm—Arthasrealizedwithacreepingfeelingthatnoneofthiswasfantasy;allofitwasdeathlyreal,anditwasterrifying.

           Themengatheredspokeofcreaturescalled"orcs"thathadsomehowinfestedAzeroth.Huge,green,withtusksforteethandlustingforblood,theyhadformeda"horde"thatflowedlikeaseeminglyunstoppabletide—"Enoughtocoverthelandfromshoretoshore,"Lotharsaiddirely.