Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Acuriousphraseforanancient,dead,spider-lordtouse.Arthaswonderedwhatthatmeant.

           Hesupposedhewasabouttofindout.

           Anub’arakandhissubjectssetabriskpace,headingduenorth.ArthasandhisScourgefollowersfellintostep,andsoontheoceanwasleftbehind.Thesunmovedquicklyacrossthedimsky,lowonthehorizon.Thelongnightwascoming.Astheymarched,Arthassentsomeofhiswarriorstogatherwhattreelimbsandstickstheycould;theywouldburnthroughmanyatorchpassingthroughthisdangeroussubterraneankingdom.

           Afterseveralhoursofexcruciatinglyslowprogress—theundeadcouldnottrulyfeelthecold,butthewindandsnowslowedthem—ArthasknewthatdespiteAnub’arak’snearlywrywords,onethingactuallywascertain.HeneverwouldhavemadeitintimetosavetheLichKing—andthushimself—byheadingoverland.Intheend,itwasself-preservationthatdrovehimsohard.TheLichKinghadfoundhim,hadmadehimintowhathenowwas.Hadgrantedhimgreatpower.Arthasknewandappreciatedit,buthisdebttotheLichKingwasnothingofloyalty.Ifthisgreatbeingwasslain,therewasnodoubtbutthatArthaswouldbethenexttodie—and,ashehadtoldUther,heintendedtoliveforever.

           Atlast,theyreachedthegates.SocoveredwithiceandsnowweretheythatArthasdidnotimmediatelyrecognizethemassuch,butAnub’arakhalted,rearedup,andspreadwidetwoofhiseightlegs,indicatingwhatlayaheadofthem