Hearing that settles the group. Daddy’s word is the steadiest currency in the Reach. And even if they’re afraid of what he might say today, they’ve spent most of their lives waiting for someone to say it. I look around the table again and know these are the Rebellion’s children. Each of them grew up hearing stories about Gold Man Jones or the Running Rabbits. But their parents told those stories like they were tragedies. That’s what you do after losing a war. You tell your histories at the fire and you make them as quiet as you can.

Daddy’s never liked quiet. “It’s time for the Reach to rise,” he says. “Our war debt has been absolved. The population has more than recovered from the Purge. Between Gale, the Foresters, and myself, we have enough money to mobilize at least half the troops we’ll need. The state treasury is ticking its way to heaven in spite of Ashlord sanctions. We’re far more formidable than we were at the start of the first Rebellion.”

“A rebellion? To what end?” Grayson asks from my left. “You’re right. The Reach has flourished, but it has done so in peacetime. What happens if we go to war? How many of our boys will we lose to battle? I’ve read Paxon’s latest book on the matter….”

A few snorts sound. Gale Gusto rolls her eyes. Only Daddy doesn’t react to the name. Paxon is too liberal by half, but Daddy makes me read all of his books. It’s always harder to defeat an enemy you don’t know. I’ve even read the book that Grayson’s mentioned.

The Grave Illusion.

In it, Paxon examined the idea of a second Rebellion, and the inevitable war that would follow between the Reach and our current rulers: the Ashlord Empire. His analysis of the economics was surgical. There wasn’t much to argue with, honestly. His conclusion was that a second war would be bad for everyone.

“I’m just saying,” Grayson goes on. “There are consequences to war.”

Daddy nods at that. “You’re not wrong. I imagine we all lived through the consequences of war for a time. Felt like I ate nothing but potatoes one year. Our parents reached for glory and couldn’t quite get a hold of it. This time will be different. You know I’ve read Paxon’s book, too. The economics in it are staggering, aren’t they? Can’t say I like the man, but he’s got an entertaining perspective on things. There’s one word he doesn’t mention even once in the text, though, Grayson. Do you know which one it is?”