Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Servantsrarelyintruded,savetobringoutandclearthecourses;bottlesofwinepouredthemselveswiththeflickofafinger.Flute,harp,andluteprovidedsoothingbackgroundmusic,theirgracefulnotescreatedbymagicratherthanhumanhandsorbreathsofair.

           ArchmageAntonidaspresidedinoneofhisrareappearances.Hewasatallman,seemingallthetallerbecauseofhisextremelythinbuild.Hislongbeardnowhadmuchmoregraythanbrowninit,andhisheadwascompletelybald,buthiseyeswerealertandpiercing.PresentalsowasArchmageKrasus,uprightandalert,hishaircatchingthecandle-andtorchlighttogleammostlysilver,withredandblackstreaks.Manyotherswereinattendance,allofhighrank.Jaina,infact,wasfarandawaythelowest-rankingpersonpresent,andshewasthearchmage’sapprentice.

           Jainacamefromamilitarybackground,andoneofthethingsherfatherhadinstilledinherwasasolidunderstandingofherstrengthsandweaknesses."Itisasmuchofamistaketounderestimateyourselfastooverestimateyourself,"Daelinhadoncetoldher."Falsemodestyisasbadasfalsepride.Knowexactlywhatyouarecapableofatanymoment,andactaccordingly.Anyotherpathisfolly—andcouldbedeadlyinbattle."

           Sheknewshewasdeftinthemagicalarts.Shewasintelligentandfocused,andhadlearnedmuchintheshorttimeshehadalreadybeenhere.SurelyAntonidaswouldnottakeonanapprenticeasacharitycase.