Bab 1746: Taste My Axe.

Axec beaconed to her challengers, who were huddled in a corner, and said, "Come and taste my axe."

Her appearance set the crowd of audience alight. They began cheering and roaring. So they picked up a single chant, "Blood for power."

The crowd wanted blood. They roared for it with fervent desperation. The fresh morning air was soon filled with a thrumming beat of potential violence. It is not for the fainthearted. But the orcs are not faint of heart. This is their tradition. 

It is their custom to bear witness to the spilling of blood. It was so before the advent of the gods and after their departure. The strongest orcs will prove their mettle by spilling their blood or that of the obstacles to their claim of chieftaincy.