Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           HerecalledhisconversationwithCalia;fortunatelyforhissister,TerenashadstartedtohavesomesuspicionsaboutPrestor—nothingthatcouldbeproven,butenoughforsecondthoughts.

           Arthaswasalmostofage—ayearolderthanCaliahadbeenwhentheirfatherhadnearlybetrothedhertoPrestor.Hesupposedhe’dhavetostartthinkingaboutfindingaqueensoonerorlater.

           Tomorrowhewouldbeleaving,andnotaminutetoosoon.

           Thewinterchillwasintheair.Autumn’slastgloriousdaysweregone,andthetrees,onceshadesofgoldandredandorange,werenowbareskeletonsagainstagraysky.Inafewmoremonths,ArthaswouldreachhisnineteenthyearandbeinductedintotheOrderoftheSilverHand,andhewasmorethanready.HistrainingwithMuradinhadendedafewmonthsago,andhehadnowbegunsparringwithUther.Itwasdifferent,butsimilar.WhatMuradinhadtaughtwasattentivenessandawillingnesstowinthebattlenomatterwhat.Thepaladinshadamoreritualisticwayoflookingatbattle,andfocusedmoreontheattitudeonebroughtintothefightthantheactualmechanicsofswordplay.Arthasfoundbothmethodsvalid,althoughhewasbeginningtowonderifhe’deverhavethechancetousewhathehadlearnedinatruebattle.

           Normally,he’dbeinprayersessionnow,buthisfatherwasoffonadiplomaticvisittoStromgarde,andUtherhadaccompaniedhim.