Starfall: A Starstruck Novel by Brenda Hiatt

together a report for the…you know.”
    “Certainly. Have you set up your secure channel yet?”
    There was so much I didn’t know! Stuff that only prior Sovereigns could tell me. From all I’d read, I was the first Sovereign ever who hadn’t been mentored by a Sovereign parent or grandparent for at least a few years before being Acclaimed. “Um, no. How do I do that?”  
    At his direction, I activated a sub-menu on my vidscreen, created a password ( not “cornfield”) and secured it genetically with a touch on the control pad. Next, he showed me how to access every database on the planet, pointing out which ones I’d need to compile my report—though without ever mentioning the Grentl by name. We kept at it until after two, by which time I was too tired to think straight.
    Finally, regretfully, I said goodnight to my grandfather and deactivated the Archive, vowing to continue as soon as possible.
    *     *     *
    Unfortunately, the next day was frustratingly like the one before. As I hurried from appointment to appointment, I started to wonder if Mr. O was trying to bore me to death, just so I’d hurry up and appoint him Regent. The fact that Sean and Molly had been excused again today—this time to go sightseeing—lent weight to my cynical theory.  
    If that really was his plan, it just might work. Rather than painstakingly evaluate all the eligible candidates, I was increasingly tempted to simply give the job to Mr. O so I could hand off all this dull, day-to-day stuff and devote my time to more important things—like preparing that report for the Grentl.  
    “I thought you were going to schedule me enough free time to figure out that Archive?” I finally whispered on the way from one stupid meeting to the next.
    He looked sharply at me. “Have you made any progress?”
    “I, um, haven’t really had a chance,” I fudged, since Leontine had more or less sworn me to secrecy. “That’s kind of my point.”
    Mr. O nodded thoughtfully and pulled out his omni. “While I think it’s likely we needn’t worry any time soon, it would be best to verify that. I’ll free up tomorrow morning for you to work on the problem.”
    “That would be great. Thanks.”  

    Molly was bubbling with excitement when she and Sean joined us in my living room late that afternoon. “M, you have got to see the Central Pillar! It’s so cool, how far up it goes—like a whole mile! And there are these murals all over the sides that look really old.”  
    “Not that we could get very close, what with that protest going on.” Sean sent a worried look at his father.
    “Protest?” Already Mr. O was reaching for the remote to turn on my main vidscreen.
    Sure enough, the top story was about a Populist rally at the Central Pillar, led by Crevan Erc, head of Nuath’s anti-Royal movement. Nearly three hundred people had attended, though about that many had also gathered to voice their opposition to his platform and their support for me as Sovereign.  
    “Hm. No real cause for concern, I’d say, based on their dwindling numbers.” Mr. O sounded relieved. “Still, I suppose they may bear watching.”
    He was about to switch off the vidscreen when I suddenly glimpsed a familiar name among the various headlines in the sidebar. “Morag Teague releases statement.”  
    “Why is Rigel’s grandmother in the news?” I exclaimed, pointing.
    Mr. O hesitated for a moment, then clicked on the story. The new screen showed a smiling Morag Teague (which was nearly as weird as seeing my Aunt Theresa smiling) giving what seemed to be a prepared speech.
    “Fellow Nuathans, I am pleased to report that my grandson, Rigel Stuart, has unequivocally proven that he values Nuath’s welfare above his own desires. Rather than risk undermining Sovereign Emileia’s transition to her new role, or her relationship with her intended Consort, Rigel has elected to have all memory of his association with her erased. In addition, he has left