Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           AtleastBlackmoorehadfoughtinbattleforhistitle;thisboy—Arthasthoughtofhimasaboy,althoughintruthLangstonwasolderthanArthas’sseventeenyears—hadbeenhandedeverythingonaplatter.

           Well,sohaveI,hethought,buthealsoknewwhatsacrificesakingwouldbeexpectedtomake.Langstonlookedlikehe’dneverdeniedhimselfathinginhislife.Nordidhedenyhimselfnow,helpinghimselftothechoicestcutsofmeat,themostlavishpastries,andmorethanoneglassofwinetowashitdownwith.Blackmoore,incontrast,atesparingly,thoughhehadmorealcoholthanLangston.

           Arthas’sdislikeofthepairwascompletedwhentheirservinggirlenteredandBlackmoorereachedtotouchherinaproprietarymanner.Thegirl,golden-hairedandsimplyclad,withafacethatneedednoartificetobebeautiful,smiledasifsheenjoyedit,butArthascaughtaquickflashofunhappinessinherblueeyes.

           "ThisisTarethaFoxton,"Blackmooresaid,onehandstillcaressingthegirl’sarmasshegatheredtheplates."Daughterofmypersonalservant,Tammis,whomI’msureyou’llseelater."

           Arthasgavethegirlhismostwinningsmile.SheremindedhimabitofJaina—herhairbrightenedbythesun,herskintanned.Shereturnedthesmilefleetingly,thendemurelylookedawayasshegatheredtheplates,droppingaquickcurtseybeforeleaving.

           "You’llhaveonelikethatsoonenough,lad,"Blackmooresaid,laughing.