Chapter 23

           Northrend.Therewasanoddsenseofcominghome.Astheshorecameintoview,Arthasrememberedthefirsttimehehadarrivedhere,hisheartfullofpainatJainaandUther’sbetrayal,achingatthenecessityofwhathehadbeenforcedtodoatStratholme.Somuchhadhappenedthatitfeltlikealifetimeago.Hehadcomethenwithvengeanceinhisheart,tokillthedemonlordresponsibleforturninghispeopleintothewalkingdead.Now,heruledthosewalkingdeadandwasallieswithKel’Thuzad.

           Strange,thetwistsandturnsoffate.

           Hedidnotfeelthecold,ashehadthen.Nordidthemenwhohadfollowedhimsoloyally;deathdulledsensationsforsuchthings.Onlythehumannecromancersbundledupagainsttheicywindthatsighedandmoanedandthesnowthatbegantodriftlazilydownwardastheymadeanchoranddebarked.

           Arthasmovedstifflyfromtherowboatontotheshore.Hemightnotfeelthecoldofthisplace,buthispowers,andhisphysicalself,wereweak.Assoonashisfeettouchedtheearth,Arthasfelthim—theLichKing.Notinhismind,notspeakingtohimthroughFrostmourne,althoughtheruneblade’sfeebleglowstrengthenedslightly.No,Arthassensedhimhere,hismaster,ashehadnotbefore.Andtherewasapricklingsensationofincreasedthreat.

           Heturnedbacktotherestofthosewhowerefollowinghimashore—ghouls,specters,shades,abominations,necromancers."Wemustmakehaste,"hecried."SomethingoutthereisthreateningtheLichKing.