Orconomics (The Dark Profit Saga, #1)

by J. Zachary Pike

“Oh, there’s always a choice. Choice is a constant.” Flinn grinned, a cold glint in his eye. “It’s consequences that vary.”

Gorm recognized the polite smirks on the faces of the lightly applauding nobility. It was an expression common to the successful playing host to failures: trying to keep up the appearance of manners while simultaneously hoping for an amusing disaster.

“It’s a useful lie, so I believe it. It’s better than reality. Like telling yourself there’s justice in the world, or that we can make a difference. They’re probably not true, but we’ll be better people if we pretend they are.

“The change we seek will not come all at once,” Zurthraka reflected. “It may not come in my lifetime. But when I was a whelp, our tribe was starving, and today, I bounce fat grandchildren on my knee; tomorrow—who can say? My grandchildren’s grandchildren will have riches that my people can only dream of, and they will know that we built their inheritance slowly, day by day, brick by brick.”