Chapter 17

           Itwas,Arthasmusedasherodeuponthebackoftheskeletal,faithfulInvincibletowardAndorhal,atrulygreatironythathewhohadslainthenecromancerKel’Thuzadwasnowchargedwithresurrectinghim.

           Frostmournewhisperedtohim,althoughhedidnotneedthevoiceofthesword—thevoiceoftheLichKing,ashedesiredtobeknown—toreassurehim.Therewasnogoingback.Nordidhewishto.

           AfterthefallofCapitalCity,Arthashadretreatedintoadarkversionofapaladin’spilgrimage.Hehadriddenthelengthandbreadthofhisland,bringinghisnewsubjectstotownaftertownandunleashingthemuponthepopulace.HethoughttheScourge,whichKel’Thuzadhadcalledthem,afittingname.Theinstrumentofself-flagellationofthesamename,sometimesusedbysomeofthemorefringeelementsofthepriesthood,wasmeanttocleanseimpurities.HisScourgewouldcleansethelandoftheliving.Hestoodstraddlingtheworlds;hewasaliveafterafashion,buttheLichKing’ssoftwhisperswerecallinghimdeathknight,andtheleechingofcolorfromhishairandskinandeyesseemedtoindicatethatitwasmorethanatitle.Hedidnotknow;hedidnotcare.HewastheLichKing’sfavored,andtheScourgewashistocommand,andinastrange,twistedway,hefoundthathecaredforthem.

           ArthasnowservedtheLichKingthroughoneofhissergeants,adreadlord,almostidenticalinformtoMal’Ganis.This,too,wasirony;this,too,didnotdistresshim.