Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Butfornow,hisfootstepstookhimtothearmory,whereheandVarianhadsparredandVarianhadembarrassedhim.Theslightwasunintended,tobesure,butitstungallthesame.

           Twoyears.

           Arthaswalkedovertotherackofwoodentrainingswordsandtookonedown.Ateleven,hehadhadwhathisgovernesscalleda"growthspurt"—atleastshe’dcalleditthatthelasttimehehadseenher,whensheweptandhuggedhimanddeclaredhim"aproperyoungmannow"andnolongerinneedofagoverness.Thelittleswordhehadtrainedwithatninewasachild’ssword.Hewasindeedaproperyoungman,standingatfivefooteightandlikelytogroweventallerifhisheritagewasanyindication.Heheftedthesword,swingingitthiswayandthat,andsuddenlygrinned.

           Headvancedononeoftheoldsuitsofarmor,grippingtheswordfirmly."Hoy!"hecalled,wishingitwasoneofthedisgustinggreenmonstersthathadbeensuchathorninhisfather’ssideforsolong.Hedrewhimselfuptohisfullheight,andliftedthetipoftheswordtothesuitofarmor’sthroat.

           "Thinkyoutopasshere,vileorc?YouareinAlliancelands!Iwillshowyoumercythisonce.Begoneandneverreturn!"

           Ah,butorcsdidn’tunderstandsurrender,orhonor.Theywerejustbrutes.Soitwouldrefusetokneelandshowhimrespect.

           "What?Youwillnotdepart?Ihavegivenyouachance,butnow,wefight!"

           Andhelunged,ashehadseenVariando.