Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Invinciblewouldexistforever,servinghismaster,ashehadalwaysdone.Hewouldnotknowthirst,orpain,orhunger,orexhaustion.Andhe,Arthas,wouldtakewhathewishedwhenhewishedit.Therewasnomoresilentdisapprovalfromhisfather,nomorescoldingfromthetoo-piousUther.NomoredubiousglancesfromJaina,herbrowfurrowedinthatdearlyfamiliarexpressionof—

           Jaina...

           Arthasshookhisheadsharply.Jainahadhadherchancetojoinwithhim.Shehadrefused.Deniedhim,althoughshehadswornshewouldneverdoso.Heowedhernothing.OnlytheLichKingcommandedhimnow.Thementalshiftcalmedhim,andArthassmiledandpattedthejuttingvertebraeoftheundeadbeast,whotossedhisbonyheadinresponse.Surely,itwasthebeautifulandwillfulranger-generalwhohadunsettledhimandmadehimquestion,evenmomentarily,thewisdomofhispath.She,too,hadhadherchance.Arthashadcomeforapurpose,andthatpurposehadnotbeentoobliterateQuel’Thalasanditspopulace.Hadtheynotresistedhim,hewouldhaveletthembe.Hersharptongueanddefiantbehaviorhadbroughtherpeople’sdoomuponthem,nothe.

           Thewaterseepedinthroughthejoinsofhisarmorandthebreeches,shirt,andgambesonheworebeneaththemetalplategrewwetandcold.Arthasdidnotfeelit.AmomentlaterInvinciblesurgedforward,clamberingoutontotheoppositebank.Thelastofthemeatwagonsrumbledontothebankaswell,andwhatcorpsesweresufficientlyintactsloggedontoland.