Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Grunting,heliftedhishead.Hiseyesstaredatsomethingshecouldn’tsee,andheextendedanimploringhandtowardit."Thepain...isunbearable,"Arthasgrowledthroughgrittedteeth."Whatishappeningtome?"Heappearedtolisten,asifanunheardvoicewasreplying.

           "KingArthas!"Kel’Thuzadcried."Doyouneedassistance?"

           Arthasdidn’treplyatonce.Hegaspedforbreath,thenslowlysatup,visiblycomposinghimself."No...no,thepainhaspassedbut...mypowers...arediminished."Hisvoicewasfullofpuzzlement.HadSylvanasstillpossessedabeatingheart,itwouldhaveleapedatthewords."Somethingisterriblywronghere.I—"

           Thepaintookhimagain.Hisbodyspasmed,hisheadfallingbackashismouthopenedinasoundlesscryofpain,theveinsonhisneckstandingoutlikecords.Kel’Thuzadflutteredaroundhisadoredmasterlikeafussynursemaid.Sylvanassimplywatchedcoldlyuntilthespasmhadpassed.Slowly,carefully,heslidoffInvincible.Hisbootedfeethittheflagstones,slippedoutfromunderhimandhefell,hard.Thelichreachedoutaskeletalhandtohelptheprince—no,self-styledking—tohisfeet.

           "Myoldquarters,"gaspedArthas."Ineedrest—andthenIhavealongjourneytopreparefor."

           Sylvanaswatchedhimgo,staggeringweaklyinthedirectionoftheroomshehadgrownupin.Sheletherlipscurveintoasmile....

           ...