Starbound: A Starstruck Novel (14 page)

Go ahead. You’ll be fine.
Rigel stood at attention at the edge of the platform, scanning the crowd.

“Hello, everyone.” Magnified by that tiny button, my voice boomed across the square, startling me again. I took a deep breath, drawing on the courage Rigel was sending me.

“Thank you all
so
much for the wonderful welcome you’ve given me today. I already feel like one of you.” A burst of applause gave me time to come up with my next sentence. “Everything I’ve seen of Ireland and of Bailerealta so far has been beautiful. I wish I could stay longer, to see more of it, and I promise that if I get a chance to come back, I’ll do just that.”
 

More applause. Really? I wasn’t being clever or original, just sincere. I decided to try something a little more substantial.

“I’m sure many of you are wondering whether a teenage girl who found out less than a year ago who she really is will be able to do all the things expected of a Sovereign. To be honest, I don’t know, but I promise to do my best. I have some great advisors and I know I’ll have more in the days…years to come. Believe me, I have as much reason as any of you to hate what Faxon did to our people and I intend to do everything possible to put things right and undo the damage he caused.”

The crowd clapped and cheered again. Then, suddenly, there was a shout from the back of the square. “How about free elections?”

“Aye, let the people decide!” came another.

“No Royals needed! No Royals needed! No Royals needed!”

I blinked, only locating the source of the disturbance when several people converged on two men waving their fists in the air. Before I could react, the men were hustled out of the square into the surrounding darkness.

“Go on,” Liana whispered. “Please. Pay them no mind, Excellency.”

Like I could just ignore something like that? I hesitated, badly rattled, until Liana gave me another urgent nod, her eyes begging me.
 

Just give them a good finish,
Rigel sent, along with another wave of love and strength.
Short and sweet, remember?
 

He was right, of course. It wasn’t like I could address what had just happened without knowing who those men were or what they wanted. Squaring my shoulders, I cleared my throat and continued.

“Over the next few days, I hope to get to know as many of you as I can, and to understand your hopes and concerns. And during my time on Mars, I intend to learn more about our people and about Nuath itself, so I can craft a course to lead us all into the best possible future. Again, thank you—all of you.”

I looked to Liana and she nodded, now smiling ear to ear. She seemed to think I’d done fine and, judging by the reaction of
most
of the crowd, they did, too. I nearly slumped in relief but caught myself before anyone—especially my detractors—could notice.

Told you you’d be great.
Rigel’s thought was smug, and it drew a smile from me that provoked even more cheers.
 

I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for being my strength.

Always,
he thought back, all humor gone.
And don’t worry about those two rabble rousers. Everyone else loved you.

I wasn’t as certain, but his confidence calmed my lingering uneasiness. Abruptly exhausted, I cupped my hand over my microphone button to whisper, “Would it offend people if I went to bed? Like, now?”

Liana shook her head, still smiling. “That will be fine. You’ve had a long day. And thank you—you were wonderful. Just what the people needed to hear from their Sovereign.” She took the button from my dress and faced the crowd, magnifying her own voice now. “Please don’t detain the Princess tonight, much as I know all of you want to talk to her. Tomorrow, after she’s rested from her travels, will be soon enough for any private audiences. Thank you all for coming.”

After one last cheer, people slowly (so slowly!) drifted away from the center square in twos, threes and family groups. It was all I could do to remain upright until I was sure I was no longer the center of attention. Keeping a smile pinned to my face, I headed toward the O’Garas, waiting a short distance from the platform.

A few people hovered nearby, clearly trying to catch my eye despite Liana’s words. I was relieved when Mrs. O shook her head at them, though I pretended not to notice. That Sean did was obvious from the way he threw a possessive arm around my shoulders.
 

Though I would have preferred Rigel’s touch, I couldn’t deny Sean’s was comforting. I had to resist an urge to lean against him for more physical support as we walked back to our guesthouse. The distance seemed a lot longer than it had two hours earlier.

It’s okay, M. Lean on him if you want. You’re exhausted. Plus, people are watching.
The faint tinge of jealousy that accompanied Rigel’s thoughts was nothing to the sleepiness I sensed from him. I remembered he hadn’t had a nap like I had.

I almost asked Mr. and Mrs. O who those shouting men were but was afraid it might lead to a discussion I was too tired to face tonight. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

As we walked, I listed toward Sean until I really was letting him partly support me. If he seemed too pleased I never knew, since I never looked up at him, too busy focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. After what seemed like forever, though it was probably only five minutes, we were back at the house and both Sean and Rigel helped me up the stairs to my room.

Zombie-like, I managed to put on pajamas and brush my teeth before falling into a dreamless sleep, too worn out to worry about whatever challenges I might face tomorrow. Or the next day, or the next.

Teachneaglis
(TAK-nee-glish):
the minority of Nuathans and
Echtrans
who prefer to do without most modern advancements, primarily found in the villages of Bailerealta on Earth, and Keary and Eriu on Mars

“And what might be your pleasure for breakfast this morning, Excellency?” Mrs. Cleary, our brown-haired, motherly hostess greeted me when I entered the dining room after ten solid hours of sleep. “Just you name it, and I’ll whip it up in no time at all while you have a bit of toast and jam with your tea.”

The four O’Garas and Rigel (who looked way too heart-stopping in his uniform for so early in the day) were already seated around the big table demolishing enormous breakfasts of their own. Apparently I hadn’t been the only one to sleep late.

Mindful of protocol, I took the chair on Sean’s right. “Whatever you’ve already made is fine. I’m not picky. Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, whatever.”

“Well, aren’t you a dear? I’ll have both out in a jiffy. There’s fresh tea in the pot and toast under the warmer.” With a little bob of her head, she bustled off into the kitchen while Mrs. O poured me a cup of tea.

“Did you sleep well, dear?” she asked.
 

“I slept great, thanks. I feel ready to take on the world. Figuratively, anyway.” I suppressed an errant Grentl thought by voicing a different concern. “I was too tired to ask last night, but what was the deal with those guys who started shouting during my speech?”

Mr. O slanted a wary glance at me. “Were you able to understand what they were chanting?”

“Sure. It was English, after all. No more Royals.”

“Actually, that was in Martian.” He gave me a faint smile when I blinked.

Martian? Really? Thinking back, I realized their actual words had been
Na ga Rioga.
My tired brain must have translated without my even knowing it. Which was cool…except for what it meant.

“So, who are they? Are they Faxon supporters?” I’d hoped after the big battle in October and the destruction of those nasty Ossian spheres, there weren’t any more of those on Earth.

“No, rather the opposite,” Mr. O assured me. “Some—though not a large or organized group—feel the reconstruction of Nuath is going perfectly well without a Sovereign in place and are opposed to another hereditary ruler.”

That actually made perfect sense to me. I’d always thought the Nuathan system was antiquated. “So they want free elections and stuff? That’s what I thought they said.”

Mrs. O gave a dismissive snort. “We already
have
free elections for most of the legislature, and even the Sovereign only takes power after being popularly Acclaimed. These rabble rousers willfully ignore this, which is no doubt why there are so few of them. Most of our people are smarter than that.”

“What Mum said.” Sean patted my hand. “You heard the crowd last night. They loved you. But there are a few crazies in every crowd.”

“In any event, they’ve been dealt with.” Mr. O smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, they won’t be bothering you again.”
 

Alarmed, I set down my cup. “Dealt with? What do you mean? What did they do to them? All they did was speak out. That’s not a crime, is it?”

He seemed startled by my reaction. “Not a crime, merely a social breach. They’ve simply been asked to leave Bailerealta until the launch, after which they’ll be free to return. Though they’re likely to be ostracized unless they come to a more reasonable way of thinking.”
 

I still didn’t like it, raised as I’d been to revere free speech. Mrs. Cleary came in with my breakfast so I allowed the subject to drop—for now. I made short work of the eggs, sausage and oatmeal, wondering how I could be so hungry when all I’d done since dinner was sleep. But both boys put me to shame, eating twice what I did on top of whatever they’d consumed earlier.

Sean swallowed a mouthful of fried potatoes. “If you want, Molly and I can show you around Bailerealta this morning, then some local sights after. There’s part of a castle not far from here, and a tower at the Cliffs of Moher with great views.”

I broke off my silent conversation with Rigel about how cool it was to have breakfast together. “Sounds great. I’m ready when you are.”

When we headed outside a few minutes later, Sean immediately grabbed my hand. “Let’s walk the circle—it’s the quickest way to see everything.”

“Sounds good.” Resisting the urge to pull away since there were a few people around, I spoke lightly, smiling up at Sean.
For show!
 

Like always
. Rigel felt more resigned than upset.
 

The four of us strolled around the loop, Sean and Molly pointing out the tiny school, the ice cream shop next to the pub, the dry goods store. Everyone we passed greeted us cheerily. The O’Garas’ previous home was now occupied by another family, but they seemed honored at Sean’s request to let us peek inside.

“About like most other houses here,” he commented as we glanced around the main living area. “Ionic sanitizers in kitchen and bath and a food recombinator, which we don’t have in Jewel. Have you seen one?”

I shook my head. “But if there’s one at the Clearys’, you can show me there. We shouldn’t go messing in the Kilcannons’ kitchen.”

“We don’t mind, Excellency.” But I could tell Mrs. Kilcannon was a little uncomfortable, despite her smile.
 

“Thank you so much, but we’re already trying to squeeze in a lot of sightseeing today. I really appreciate you letting us look around.”

The whole family bowed to me as we left. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to that.
 

Gonna have to work on it,
Rigel remarked.

I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. If I ever act like I do, smack me, okay?

Oh, yeah, that’ll go over well. Not I’d ever need to. You’re the least stuck-up beautiful girl I know.

Hiding my smile at the glow his words gave me, I longed to at least brush Rigel’s hand. We were halfway around the loop now and hadn’t managed a single touch. To hide my frustration, I asked, “Didn’t you say the far side of the village is where the, um, technophobes live?”
 

“The
teachneaglis,
yeah, just up ahead.” Molly pointed. “Some are more extreme than others, but most use electricity and modern plumbing, at least.”

“You mean some don’t?” Rigel was clearly startled. “Seriously?”

Sean nodded, squeezing my hand slightly—which I ignored. “Mostly just the Kellens and the Gleesons and their extended families. Their grandparents, or maybe great-grandparents, came here right after the Great Unplugging, when they didn’t think it went far enough.”

“The
what?
”
 

I glanced at Rigel, surprised he didn’t know, then remembered he hadn’t been cramming Martian history like I had.
 

And you never mentioned it,
he commented silently as Sean started explaining.

“Yeah, nearly three hundred years ago on Mars, things were a lot like they’re getting now on Earth—instant communication, social media, more and more personal entertainment options, stuff like that. At one point, nearly every person over the age of ten had a headset that kept them constantly connected to the
grechain
—our internet. Some even got sensory implants. Like having an omni—or at least an iPhone—attached to your face 24/7.”

“I thought it sounded kind of cool when I read about it,” I admitted. “But then, I’m the girl who’s never even had a cell phone.”

Molly grinned. “I thought that, too, until we studied it in school. It got to where everyone who could, worked from home. But instead of spending the extra time with their families, people got more and more isolated, spending so much time online they practically stopped talking face to face at all. Finally some Social Scientists convinced Sovereign Aerleas—your great-grandmother—that our whole society was being damaged, and she agreed.”

Mention of her name immediately brought to mind what else I knew about her—things I immediately pushed from my mind. Instead, I thought back to what I’d read about the Great Unplugging. “Not her most popular decision, right?”

“That’s for sure.” Sean laughed, squeezing my hand again. “The way our grandmother told it, it triggered the closest thing to an uprising in centuries.”

“But not with actual violence,” Molly was quick to assure me. “Not like the uprisings Faxon engineered. Before people even got protests organized, families started talking to each other, and to their neighbors, and realized how much they’d missed it. So it turned out to be a good thing. We might have ended up, I dunno, cyborgs, otherwise.”