Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           IttookArthasasecondtograspthemeaningandthenheblinked,startled.Thetwomenlaughedharder,andBlackmooreraisedhisgobletinatoast.

           "Tofair-hairedgirls,"hesaid,inapurringvoice.ArthaslookedbackatTaretha,thoughtofJaina,andforcedhimselftoraisehisglass.

           AnhourlaterArthashadforgottenallaboutTarethaFoxtonandhisindignationonherbehalf.Hisvoicewasrawfromscreaming,hishandshurtfromclapping,andhewashavingthetimeofhislife.

           Atfirst,he’dfeltalittleuncomfortable.Thefirstfewcombatantsintheringweresimplebeastspittedagainstoneanother,fightingtothedeathfornoreasonotherthantheenjoymentoftheonlookers."Howaretheytreatedpriortothis?"Arthashadasked.Hewasfondofanimals;itunsettledhimtoseethemusedso.

           Langstonhadopenedhismouth,butBlackmooreshushedhimwithaquickgesture.Hehadsmiled,leaningbackinhischaiseloungeandsnaggingabunchofgrapes."Wellofcoursewewantthemattheirfightingpeak,"hesaid."Sotheyarecapturedandtreatedquitewell.Andasyoucansee,theboutsgoquickly.Ifananimalsurvivesandisnotabletocontinuefightingagain,weputhimdownatonce,mercifully."

           Arthashopedthemanwasnotlyingtohim.AsickfeelinginhisguttoldhimBlackmooreprobablywas,butheignoredit.Thefeelingvanishedwhenthefightinginvolvedmenagainstthebeasts.Ashewatched,riveted,Blackmooresaid,"Themenarepaidwell.