Read Starfall: A Starstruck Novel for Free Online Page A

is.” Though Nuath now used the Earth calendar and had its clocks synched with Ireland’s, I didn’t know if it had always been that way.
    “I am sorry.” He actually sounded—and looked—it. But how could that be, if he was a recording?
    Rather than wonder, I asked. “How…does this work, exactly? I mean, no offense, but you’ve been dead for more than fifteen years. How can I be talking to you now?”
    “This Archive holds the stored images and recorded experiences of all previous Sovereigns from the time of its creation by Arturo, son of Tiernan, to the present. During my grandfather, Sovereign Nuallen’s, time, we developed the technology to store personality profiles as well, allowing a more authentic interaction with any more recent Sovereigns you may choose to access for information or advice. When integrated with the Scepter, the Archive is capable of virtual intelligence. Learning, if you will.”
    “You mean I can just ask questions? And you—or other, older Sovereigns—will just…answer me?”
    He smiled again. “Precisely. It can be an extremely valuable resource.”
    No kidding! I’d been wondering who I could trust enough to put on my Advisory Council, when I had the best Advisory Council possible right here in my hand! For the first time since getting Rigel’s terrible message, real excitement bubbled up inside me.  
    “You will be expected to store your own experiences in the Archive for your eventual successors as well,” my grandfather continued. “It is how we have ensured continuity of purpose and knowledge down the centuries.”
    Okay, that creeped me out a little, thinking of storing my self in this thing for any kids or grandkids I might have way in the future. But that was the least of my worries right now, when I’d been given this incredible gift.  
    “I understand. I think. I mean, I assume there are instructions or something for that?”
    “You need only ask. Meanwhile, as you were clearly not trained at the Palace during your youth and lost your father at such an early age, there must be much you need to know.”
    I nodded eagerly. “ So much! Like, pretty much everything! I don’t even know where to start. No, wait, yes I do,” I corrected myself. “Please, sir, I need to know everything you can tell me about the Grentl.”
    For the first time, Sovereign Leontine frowned at me. “All information on that topic has been stored separately, for security reasons. I’m afraid you will not be able to access it via this Archive.”
    “Oh, that’s okay. I have the other one here.” I held up the purple stone. “Do I open it the same way I did this one, with the Scepter?”
    His frown relaxed. “I see we have a very resourceful new Sovereign. No doubt you already have experiences that will be valuable additions to the Archives. Yes, it is accessed the same way. To exchange the stones, simply press down on this one with your hand and rotate it to the left to remove it from the Scepter. Replace it with the other by pressing down and rotating to the right.”
    “Should I, um, turn this one off or something first? I can put this Archive back the same way, right?” I felt suddenly panicky at the thought of not being able to see my grandfather again when there were so many things I needed to ask him.
    “Yes, you can exchange the stones whenever necessary, though the other Archive should be kept in its secure location when not in use and its existence guarded even more closely than this one. The command chartlann fionragh will discontinue transmission until reactivated. I look forward to continuing our conversation, Emileia.”
    “Can you?” I was genuinely curious. “Look forward to it, I mean. You’re not…in some kind of limbo in there when I’m not using the Archive, are you?” That sounded awful.
    To my relief, he shook his head. “A figure of speech, based on how I would have spoken—or felt—when alive. My true consciousness went to its reward at my