Chronicle of Forgotten Legends
Thunder Ax
Akop Nagabedyan
© Akop Nagabedyan, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0065-4054-5
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Chapter 1
The sun was gradually rising above the horizon, and warm rays glided through the forest, illuminating everything around them. The orc named Lortar sat on a stump, rubbing his large hands together lazily. He was once again contemplating his dream of becoming the greatest warrior of all time.
– Lorthar, are you all right? – Elfin asked, walking gracefully past him. – You don’t look well, like you forgot to fix your hair.
– Hey, I don’t have hair to mess with! – Lortar muttered, pointing at his bald head. – Don’t you know that in our world, true beauty is muscle and strength!
A dwarf named Burk, who was sawing a tree nearby at the time, laughed.
– Oh, we all know you’re friends with them! – he shouted as he let go a huge kick at the tree. – But don’t forget that muscles don’t help if you can’t think! How about coming up with a plan instead of just rattling around like an old horn?
Thunder shifted his chest with a reproachful look and heaved a heavy sigh.
– A plan? You mean the one Elfin suggests when you’re about to throw me forward into battle?
Elfin inquired with feigned bewilderment:
– Wait, aren’t you exactly the one who’s always ready to rush into the fray first? “ Lortar will fall, but his fists will laugh!»
Lortar folded his arms across his chest resentfully:
– Where did you get that from, my serious friend? I just wanted to let everyone know that my style is «go forth and fight,» not «go forth and beware!»
– Oh, and also ’go ahead and put down your charms’,» Burk added with a smile and a wink.
– Look, everyone knows that my real magic is that I’m great at dancing when the enemy attacks me! Understand, sounds are in my blood. – Lortar squeaked softly, hoarsely mimicking the rhythm of his ’dance’.
Elfin held back a laugh, but still remarked:
– Your «magic» is more like slapping water when you’re trying to get out of the mud.
Thunder began to blush and tried again to intimidate his friends with his stare, but Burk only shook his head and added conciliatingly:
– «Okay, just don’t forget that besides «combat’ we also have «traveling’ on our list. When can we leave this boring forest?
– «Boring forest?» – wondered the Orc. It’s not just a forest! There’s so much nature here! And even… bandits!
Elfin looked away, adjusting his armor:
– I hope you’ve prepared a joke too, in case we do encounter brigands. I fear our humor may be the only weapon we have left.
Lortar, feeling rooted to the spot, slowly rose from his stump:
– Okay, friends, time to go on an adventure! Besides, if we find the Thunder Axe, our jokes will be even funnier when we swing with it in the arena!
Burk winked at his friends:
– And if they don’t get our jokes, we’ll just make them laugh by force!
Elfin only grinned:
– The main thing is that they don’t start laughing at us afterwards.
Lortar walked down the forest path, moving his massive feet with confidence. Elfin and Burk walked side by side, discussing what they were going to do when they found the Thunder Axe.
– «So, imagine this,» Elfin began, dancing, ’we get to the fighting arena, and as soon as we enter, the crowd stands up and starts shouting, «Lortar! Lortar! A blast of power and armor of jokes!»
– In this case she will laugh not at the jokes, but at my two legs, which seem to be fighting each other rather than enemies! – Lortar shook his head and looked down at his feet.
Burke chuckled loudly:
– Don’t worry, Lortar! Make up a new style for them, call it «ice foot dancing»! So they won’t even know whether to laugh at you or try to figure out what’s going on!
Lortar released some menacing sounds into the air, trying to reproduce something similar to shaking:
– If anyone else tries to please such tiny imperfections, I’ll turn them into a puddle… Or at least back into a piglet!
Elfin said with a sly smile:
– «You mean you have to experience «flaws’ first before turning them into accomplishments?
– «It’s a matter of time,» Lortar sniped, winking at his friends. – I won’t be disappointed by hurtful comments!
– In fact, until we get to the tournament, there’s plenty of time to work out your moves,» Burk added, grinning slyly again. – Maybe we’ll even create a couple new dances!
Lortar nodded, contemplating the image of the ’dancing orc’ -, dreaming of seeing the crowd go crazy with merriment.
– Okay, how about we get away from all this thinking and do some real ones,» Lortar twirled his fists in the air as if he was practicing his strength. – For example, we can start with the dragon I was promised to see in the arena…»»
Elfin intercepted his gaze:
– A dragon? You can’t be serious, Lortar! How many times have you already «seen» a dragon in your dreams at night?
– At least a few,» Lorthar replied with a grim mood. – Hardly makes me any less prepared for them!
Burk raised a finger:
– «Perhaps you could question the dragon about your dance? I’m sure he’d appreciate it!
– Or, if we’re not careful, he’ll roast us and serve us as a side dish to his dinner,» Elfin winked.
Lortar was frightened:
– Okay, some epic dreams I can breathe, but not to the depths of my morning porridge!
As they continued to laugh and banter with each other, the moon was beginning to climb in the sky, filling the air with evening mystery. It was the one moment when the weight of the rest of the world’s obstacles seemed a distant memory.
– Don’t forget,“ said Lorthar, gathering his wits, „our journey to the Thunder Axe begins here, and as your brave leader, I have sworn to retrieve this artifact and show everyone who the real hero is!
Elfin sighed deceptively:
– Looks like the dusty joker is you! Let’s get the Kiev food ready in case we suddenly have a battle in the kitchen!
Burk nodded enthusiastically:
– I’m in! But the chicken wings are my area of responsibility… and don’t forget you’re the one who’s going to be