Uninvited

by Carol Buhler

  Several chapters of this short story originally appeared in the first version of the novel EMERGENCE.

  About THE LILLITH CRONICLES

  High in the mountains of the major continent of Gareeth, Center, a small city of seventy sprawling estates perches on a bluff above a narrow mountain bowl. The white granite buildings house the central government and homes of the planet’s native species: the don. In the valley below, brilliant green with cultivated fields, pastures, and patches of forest, the second more-dominant native species of Gareeth, the reeth, make their homes. A river bounded by densely overgrown trees and bushes courses through the middle of the valley, emptying into a shallow lake whose shores sprout marsh reeds teeming with birds and small rodents. Heavy growth evergreens blanket the northeast face and to the south, the narrow lake outlet bounces over the side of a cliff into a lower valley.

  Mind-mated reeth and don had occupied the mountains and the vast fertile plains to the north and east for over a thousand years in harmony one with the other. Then, humans arrived in spaceships seeking to colonize. The peaceful natives extended welcome and, for many years, worked diligently to make the newcomers feel at home. Eventually, true to human proclivities, disputes arose, not only between the various human leaders, but between them and the native don and reeth. When human supply ships stopped coming, the settlers became desperate for more land and resources; wars broke out. The natives withdrew to their mountain hideouts, telepathically wiped memories of themselves from colonists' minds, and hid Center from human eyes.

  Three-hundred-fifty years later, the Lillith Chronicles began.

  Chapter 1

  "You'd think they'd get over it," I fumed to Lillyon as I flew furiously north. My mood was sour. We hadn't managed to slip away quickly enough to avoid his elderly aunt's well-meant birthday congratulations. "So I was born Lethal White!” I ranted. “I managed to survive fillyhood, marriage, and foal birth—twice! I'm eighty years old for Foal's sake and still everyone's surprised I made it another year."

  "Forget them, my love." My dear, patient husband's deep telepathic voice bathed me with soothing. "Be happy. Enjoy your day."

  We'd planned a leisurely, restful excursion of grazing the wild oat meadows of southern Lorn away from all family and friends. I shouldn't take it out on him, I thought, forcing myself to slow the hard downbeat of my wings. As soon as we landed, he stroked his forehead down my neck and kneaded the heavy muscle just before my withers with his teeth. Stretching my head down, I savored the waves of pleasure and emptied my mind of all thoughts. Moments later, I sent him a thankful mental smile, then ripped up a shock of oats.

  Meandering through the meadow, we sought the tastiest morsels as the sun warmed our backs and a slight breeze ruffled our manes. My wings brushed his shoulders, his tail flicked across my hips, and occasionally, our muzzles touched as we reached for the same luscious clump. He always let me have it. We worked our way toward the river without speaking, our rapport well established after forty-two years of marriage.

  By noon, we stood fetlock deep in a side eddy, shaded by the branch of a broad leafed tree that stretched past the middle of the river. I relished the peace: the buzz of insects, a distant call of a bird, and the cool water lapping around my legs. It allowed me to reflect: I've never felt different from the others. Yes, I'm unusually small, and of course totally white, but neither characteristic makes me weak.

  Lillyon bumped me gently with his shoulder and snorted. "You're not weak! And they know that."

  I flipped my upper lip in a teasing grin, teeth bared, and galloped out of the shade toward a hill crowned with sunflowers—my favorite treat. He caught me quickly and circled playfully, nipping at my upper legs and slapping my back with his wings. I squealed and ducked away, racing a few strides, then took wing toward the river once more. Again, he caught me easily. We threw our heads in the air and laughed deep reeth chuckles, splashing water with hoofs and wings, acting like the young ones we no longer were.

  Then, I felt something, like a noose settling around my neck, my face. My muscles bunched with tension and I whipped my head toward the south.

  "What?" Lillyon demanded, nostrils flared, ears flicking south.

  I turned to him; his large eyes swirled red with alarm. My voice quavered with fear. "He’s calling me!"

  "Who is?" His sharp question cut through the fog of my panic.

  "The Royal Newborn!" I pushed my forehead against his solid shoulder and wailed, "Why me? I’m too old!" Turning again toward the south, I rubbed my body along his heavier one, seeking comfort. "I have children!" Another wave of anxiety flowed through me and I leaned into him heavily. "I have you! I can’t be mind-melded."

  "Love." His voice held steady as he radiated calm. My muscles stopped twitching and my fear faded, swept away by his confidence. "You are not too old! If he is calling you, it’s because you are the one he needs." His heavy wing stroked my back and he curled his neck around mine. "You must go," slipped softly into my mind.

  I met his gaze, now gleaming warm green.

  "Go! I’m right behind you," he said. I launched into the air, flying south as fast as I could, my mind whirling with confusion and excitement. Suppressing all concerns, I landed on the broad plaza of Center, facing the double doors of the royal Joe mansion with determination. My lungs labored and my heart raced as I fought to catch my breath. I took one step toward the door, then whirled to bury myself beneath Lillyon's wing.

  With his velvety nose, he pushed me away. "Go!"

  I nodded and trembled at the pride I read in his mind. "I won’t let him change us, I promise!" He nudged me forward again; I pawed the door with my right fore.

  Moments later, the door swung open and I faced the father, the Supreme Don. Tall and powerful, with broad shoulders for a don, his dark hair was tangled. The typical pale skin of his face was lined with weariness. I didn't quail from his shocked look, but said firmly, telepathically, "He's calling me!"

  "You?" he said, his disbelief evident in raised voice and stiffened back. I hunched a defensive shoulder and stormed past him, my hooves thudding on the paving tiles of the wide foyer. The mental call guided me to the bedroom where the baby lay on his mother's chest. Unaware that Lillyon had followed, I felt the blue eyes lock on mine and heard his childish consciousness claim my heart and mind: "Lillith."

  I faltered, almost falling to my knees, as the mind-meld snapped into place, an invisible bond forever linking my mind to his. "Welcome, Joldon," I murmured. Dropping my head, I nuzzled his plump belly and drew in his scent; my joy bloomed outward, enveloping everyone in the room. The babe, only hours old, focused and cascaded waves of love over me.

  His mother pushed herself to a sitting position and raised his tiny hand to stroke my muzzle; her tears dripped on my nose. From his father, awe and approval swept over me. He sat on the bed and wrapped an arm around his fym's shoulder, joining her in ecstatic contemplation of me touching their child, my head bigger than his entire body. And then I felt the honor, love, and support pouring from Lillyon's heart to mine.

  Accepting the charge, I knew my life to be forever changed. From this day forward, until we died, I would belong to this don child and he would belong to me.

  Chapter 2

  The night had passed before Lillyon and I exited the Joe mansion. A herd of grays, some darker colors interspersed among them, packed the plaza like waves of the sea, lapping the sides and overflowing the corners. They stood absolutely still as I flung up my head in wonder. The entire Lill family devoured me with their eyes; pride infused the air along with the heavy aroma of tightly packed reeth bodies. A deep thrum started as they let me know that a Lill meld with the royal newborn deserved the highest acclaim.

  A young light bay, quivering with excitement, dashed forward, then stopped as if shocked by her own temerity. "Mother," my daughter said with a quaver of fear, "What's going to happen to us?" I caught Lillyon's quick reprimand and she bobbed her head, then changed her tone. "I'm so proud
of you, Mother!"

  "Nothing will change between us, Lillene," I swore as I caressed her neck with my muzzle, accompanying my words with comforting thoughts. "Your father and I will move here to Center and live in the mansion. You may join us here, or stay with your fostering family and complete your training. Your choice."

  As Lillene relaxed, I looked beyond to see my uncle-in-law, the hereditary leader of the royal Lill family, waiting patiently. He stepped forward and beamed a smile at the three of us, caught by the herd in front of the heavy wooden doors. A sturdy, dappled gray, his color had lightened in the last years leaving his wing tips and muzzle white; only his lower legs remained the dark gray I remembered from my foal years. Still, his sleek, well-toned body proclaimed him powerful enough to command everyone's admiration—especially mine. I dropped my head in respectful greeting.

  "Congratulations, Lillith," he said, pitching his mental voice so all could hear. "You have made us proud." He glanced past me and I sensed the approach of the Supreme Don behind me. The reeth leader aimed his words to the don leader. "When will the ceremony be? We want to attend."

  Surprising me, Lord Joedon placed his hand on my shoulder and projected his voice to carry. "My fym should be rested sufficiently by tomorrow afternoon." His deep tone betrayed his fatherly delight. "It was an easy birth and…" He smugly emphasized his next words. "…my son is strong and healthy." Sweeping his gaze over the bodies stuffed everywhere, he grimaced. "If all of you insist on being present, I guess we'll hold it here in the plaza. We'll have the celebration in the back gardens after."

  Loud whinnying and stomping greeted his words and he grinned with gratification. "Tomorrow then," he shouted over the noise. Stroking my neck, he murmured, "Hope that suits you."

  I nodded. Numbed by the events of the last several hours, I wasn't ready to converse with this royal don but he seemed satisfied with my mute response. As he reentered the house, I pressed myself against Lillyon briefly, then walked into the herd to accept their acclaim.

  **

  The next afternoon, the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky as if blessing the union about to be sealed. Formally arranged chairs filled the square, reeth crowded around their seated don-mates, and more of both species overflowed into surrounding streets. Lord Joedon stood on a dais garbed in royal black and silver, his hand resting on his fym's shoulder as she sat before him. Gowned in the same colors, with her braided black hair draped over one shoulder, Lady Soreladon held their son, swathed in silver cloth, carefully on her lap. Grandparents beamed beside them as I approached. I hoped I seemed as confident as the royal couple.

  My parents, Lillyon, and our son and our daughter followed me, giving me courage, but I stood alone before the dais. A space to the side had been cordoned off for the Lill family delegates to wait for their part in the ceremony. The five of them had their ears focused on me, radiating joy. I forced myself to be composed, mentally leaning on the support so unreservedly offered.

  Following the ancient formula, I dropped on one knee, bowed to the Supreme Don, and said, "Joldon and I will work together for the rest of our lives for the happiness and prosperity of your family and mine." Since only the Supreme Don could hear me, the official bailiff, standing to the far left, started to repeat my prescribed words over a loudspeaker for the crowd to witness. He stopped abruptly as everyone gasped.

  "I heard her!" someone shouted. Another don called, "I did too."

  I craned my neck around and stared in amazement at the shouting audience. All the reeth should have heard me—our telepathy was universal. But of the audience, only the Supreme Don should have heard my words. We reeth could only speak telepathically to one don at a time besides our mind-mate.

  The solemn ceremony halted and Lord Joedon demanded an explanation. As don after don, fem after fem testified to having heard my words, his face morphed from puzzlement to understanding. Holding up his hands, he quieted the crowd. "We've heard of this phenomenon from our history. Sometimes a reeth is born who can communicate with all don. It appears that Lillith can now do that."

  Looking me in the eye, he continued, loud enough for everyone to hear, "You weren't able to do that prior to your meld, were you?"

  "No," I said to him. By this time we were both facing the witnesses. Many of them nodded or waved to indicate that they'd again heard me.

  "Well," Lord Joedon exclaimed happily. "This is a wonderful bonus to the melding of Lillith and my son. Let us restart the ceremony."

  I dropped again to one knee and repeated my vow. A loud sigh came from the don behind me. Rising, I nodded to my right. "My father, my mother." My parents dipped their heads, then stepped back so Lillyon and our children could approach. Normally, a newly melded reeth wasn't already married with children; Lord Joedon and I had made a small modification to the ceremony earlier in the day and given the script to the bailiff to read. But now, he didn't have to.

  I had no time to contemplate, or worry about, this drastic change to my life. Beaming with love, I introduced Lillyon, Lilladd, and Lillene to the Supreme Don. "These are my immediate family: my husband…my son…my daughter." Then, I waved a wing at the Lill representatives. "And these are the individuals elected by the Lill family to swear on this bonding." Turning back to face the Supreme Don, I finished my part: "They will support Joldon and me in our endeavors."

  The reeth I'd introduced dropped to one knee before the Supreme Don and his fym, their heads bowed to touch noses to ground, and in unison, they promised their backing of Joldon and me. I felt my heart might burst at the weight of their pride.

  Once the audience quieted, Lord Joedon took his fym’s hand, knelt on one knee next to her chair, and spoke loud and clear. "We, Lord Joedon and Lady Soreladon, Supreme Don and Royal Fym, support Joldon and Lillith. May our families be united through them and may our lives be strengthened by their deeds."

  The witnesses burst into cheers and the ceremony disintegrated into the back gardens for food, drink, and celebration. Having already received reeth congratulations, I found myself trying to remember the names of the influential don I met, most of whom seemed amazed at my newly elevated position. Finally, after what felt like hours, I found a quiet moment to reflect on the ritual. It was an ancient ceremony all don and reeth learned with no place for the mind-melded child. We would repeat the rite again when Joldon became twenty and could understand what he pledged himself to.

  Lillyon stroked my neck with his muzzle and I buried my head under his wing. "I do understand what it means," I murmured, "and I'm scared."

  Receive the novella Lillith Free by signing up for the Lillith Chronicles Readers’ Group at

  carolbuhler.com

  About Carol Buhler

  I spent sixty years working with horses in between being a wife, a mom, and having different non-equine careers (had to pay for the horses) until finally I could devote my full-time attention to them. Raising, training, and competing on various breeds in multiple disciplines, I consider myself a jack of all horse venues, master of none.

  I’ve traveled the US hauling a horse trailer with my one horse on the left side of the two-horse divider, the household furnishings on the right side, and the fishing boat tied to the top. My family moved to Texas from Colorado with my barrel horse and my son’s pinto pony in that same trailer and my daughter’s white Shetland poking her nose at the traffic through the stock racks of the pickup. And I’ve hauled a nine-horse trailer with living quarters over the mountains and across the plains or desert to wherever a horse show could be found.

  In Wyoming, I raised Appaloosas and went on cattle drives. In Colorado, I road quarter horses to barrel race and Gymkhana. In Texas, I exercised polo ponies and trained parade Palomino Walking Horses. Tennessee and California saw me compete in Eventing. I’ve ridden trails all over the west on everything from a Thoroughbred to a Draft Horse to a Mule. And when we finally settled in Utah, I not only competed in Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, Polocross, and Combined Driving, I developed the Pegasus
Event Center which has hosted competitions in all the above venues, and still does.

  However, I learned the most about horses from managing the Pegasus herd for over twenty years, at one time numbering 145 horses. They were competitive horses of every breed, from mustangs to miniatures to a $65,000 Lusitano. Every horse had a unique personality and was willing to teach something if a human would but listen.

  To share my wonder and love of this extraordinary species—the horse—I created Lillith and her world of the future, because I also love reading science fiction. On the planet Gareeth, telepathic winged horses, the reeth, are intelligent, loving, and infinitely tolerant. They dote on their human-like mind-mates, the don, helping maintain tempers, sharing hopes and dreams, and devoting their lives to support don endeavors. As a horse woman, I would love to have a reeth at my side.

  Once my main character Lillith got ahold of me, she has not let me go. She demands that I share my horse knowledge in my stories through her, her friends, and her family.

  Currently, I live in Ecuador with my husband where I spend every day reading, writing, or riding, or any combination of the three.

  carolbuhler.com