Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Hewasgrowingincreasinglyweak,andatonepointwasevenunabletoblockablowdirectlytohismidsection.Thedullswordclangedagainsthisarmor,andhesufferednomajorwound,butthattheghoulhadgottenpasthisdefensesalarmedhim.

           "Therearetoomanyofthem,myking!"Kel’Thuzad’ssepulchralvoicesaid,thetenorofloyaltyinitbringingunexpectedtearstoArthas’seyes."Flee—escapefromthecity!I’llfindmywayoutandmeetyouinthewilderness.Itisyouronlychance,myliege!"

           Heknewthelichwasright.Withacry,Arthasclumsilydismounted.AwaveofhishandandInvinciblebecameinsubstantial,aghosthorseinsteadofaskeletalone,anddisappeared.Arthaswouldsummonhimagainwhenhewassafelyaway.Hecharged,grippingtheenfeebledFrostmourneinbothhandsandswinging,nolongertryingtokillorevenwoundhisopponents—theywereindeedtoomany—butsimplytoclearapath.

           Thegateswereclosed,butthispalacewaswherehehadgrowntomanhood,andheknewitintimately.Kneweverygate,wall,andhiddenpassageway,andinsteadofheadingforthegates,whichhewouldbeunabletoraisebyhimself,hewentdeeperintothepalace.Theundeadfollowed.Arthasracedthroughthebackcorridorsthathadoncebeentheprivatequartersoftheroyalfamily,whichhehadoncetraversedwithJaina’shandclaspedtightlyinhis.Hestumbledandhismindreeled.