Part 1

           "Holdherhead;that’sit,lad!"

           Themare,hernormallywhitecoatgraywithsweat,rolledhereyesandwhickered.PrinceArthasMenethil,onlysontoKingTerenasMenethilII,onedaytorulethekingdomofLordaeron,heldfasttothebridleandmurmuredsoothingly.

           Thehorsejerkedherheadviolentlyandalmosttookthenine-year-oldwithher."Whoa,Brightmane,"Arthassaid."Easy,girl,it’llbeallright.Nothingtoworryabout."

           JorumBalnirgruntedinamusement."doubtyou’dfeelthatwayifsomethingthesizeofthisfoalwascomingoutofyou,lad."

           HissonJarim,crouchingbesidehisfatherandtheprince,laughedandsodidArthas,gigglinguncontrollablyevenashotandsoggyfoamfromBrightmane’schampingmouthdroppedontohisleg.

           "Onemorepush,girl,"Balnirsaid,movingslowlyalongthehorse’sbodytowherethefoal,encasedinashinyshroudlikemembrane,washalfwaythroughitsjourneyintotheworld.

           Arthaswasn’treallysupposedtobehere.Butwhenhehadnolessons,heoftensneakedawaytotheBalnirfarmsteadtoadmirethehorsesBalnirwasknownforbreedingandtoplaywithhisfriendJarim.Bothyouthswerewellawarethatahorsebreeder’sson,evenonewhoseanimalswereregularlyboughtasmountsfortheroyalhousehold,wasnota"proper"companionforaprince.Neithercaredmuch,andthusfarnoneoftheadultshadputahalttothefriendship.