Chapter 16

           Arthasandhismenrantowardtheencampmenttodiscoverthatthebattlehadnotabatedinhisabsence.Thenumbersofhismenhaddwindled,buttherewerenocorpses.Hedidnotexpecttoseeany—thosewhofellroseasadversaries,underthecommandofthedreadlord.

           Falric,hisarmorspatteredwithgore,criedouttohim."PrinceArthas!We’vedonewhatwecouldand—WhereisMuradin?Wecan’tholdoutanylonger!"

           "Muradinisdead,"Arthassaid.Thecoldbutcomfortingessenceoftheswordseemedtoabatealittle,andpainswelledinhisheart.Muradinhadpaidtheprice—butitwasworthit,ifitwouldfellMal’Ganis.Thedwarfwouldhaveagreed,hadheknowneverything,understoodasArthasunderstood.Muradin’smenlookedstrickenevenastheycontinuedtofireroundafterroundintothewavesofundeadthatcontinuedtopoundagainstthem."Hisdeathwasnotinvain.Takeheart,Captain.TheenemywillnotstandlongagainstthemightofFrostmourne!"

           Astheywatched,disbeliefwashingovertheirfaces,Arthaschargedintothefray.

           Hehadthoughthefoughtwellwithhisblessedhammer,nowlyingdiscardedandforgottenintheicyvaultwhereFrostmournehadoncebeenimprisoned,butitwasnothingtothedamagehedealtnow.Frostmournefeltmorelikeanextensionofhimselfratherthanaweapon.Hequicklyfoundarhythmandbegantoslicetheundeaddownasiftheyweresomanystalksofgrainfallingbeforetheharvestingscythe.