Chapter 20

           ThecoldwindtousledArthas’swhitehair,caressedhisface,andhesmiled.Itwasgood,tobeagaininthecolderpartofthisworld.Theelvenland,withitseternalearlysummer,heavywiththescentsofblossomsandgrowth,hadmadehimuneasy.ItremindedhimtoomuchofthegardensofDalaran,wherehehadspentsomuchtimewithJaina;ofthesnapdragonsoftheBalnirfarm.Betterthewind,toscourhimclean,andthecoldness,toquellthosememories.Theynolongerservedhim,butweakenedhim,andtherewasnoroomforweaknessintheheartofArthasMenethil.

           Hewas,asever,atophisloyalhorse,Invincible.HehadhadabadmomentinQuel’Thalas,whenthatbastardkingAnasterianhadcowardlyattackedaninnocentsteedratherthanitsrider,severingitslegsinthesamewaythatinlifehadcausedInvincible’sdeath.TheincidenthadcatapultedArthasbackintimetothosehorriblemoments,shakinghimtothecoreandinthecaseofthebattlewithAnasterian,unleashinganicyragethatintheendhadservedhimwell.Beforeandbehindhim,hisarmymarchedthroughthesnowypass,untiring,unaffectedbythecold.Somewhereinamongtheirghastlynumberfloatedabanshee.ArthaswouldletSylvanasbe,forthemoment.HewasmoreinterestedinKel’Thuzad,whoglidedbesidehimalmostserenely,ifsuchawordcouldeverbeappliedtoalich.HewastheonewhohaddirectedtheScourgetothisremote,frozenplace,andArthashaduntilnownotquestioned.Butthetrekwasgettingboring,andhewascurious.