Summer Queen Udara | New York City
The glamour was a beautiful piece of work and Udara certainly appreciated it, even if she didn't understand how its subtle magic had been achieved and had no intention of dedicating the many years or even decades it would take to learn. The Lady Analia was practiced in the art of subtlety and that would suffice for them both. Udara on the other hand could feel her power burning in her heart, the sheer raw strength of a sun unleashed. Her powers came with a different purpose.
"The glamour will last for a time?" Udara asked, keeping her voice soft as they walked easily from the building, freely passing within a hand's stretch of the enemy army who were advancing in a steady line and closing off all escape routes. A few moments later and they might not have found a gap big enough to slip through and glamour or not, Udara expected that if their bodies were to brush against the other fae, they would soon be discovered.
"For a time," Lady Analia agreed.
Sonrya readied herself in a fighting stance; the dryad had spent many years at her queen's side and perhaps guessed something of her intentions. Analia was less familiar with the queen and a sudden worry burned in her eyes as they flickered toward the two clashing armies and back to the dryad's quiet preparations. Udara stopped walking.
Now that they were a safe distance away, Queen Udara turned back and watched as the battle commenced. The Winter soldiers advanced relentlessly, clustering around the building's openings as the Summer soldiers retreated within and formed a defensive huddle. Disguising the retreat. Buying them time. The forty Summer soldiers didn't stand a chance against the sixty of the enemy, but what if Udara attacked from behind? Could they trap the foe between them? What if she showed herself and then ran? Would the army follow? All of it, some of it, enough of it? The thoughts blazed through her head like wildfire, igniting every spark of hope which remained to her and the small queen had a great propensity for hope. She could do it. She would do it.
"We can't, my queen," Lady Analia stated in her steadfast way. "The moment you attack, this glamour will break and their army will come for us. As powerful as you are, we would be greatly outnumbered and the time it would take for our forces to leave that building one by one-"
Udara squeezed her eyes closed but Analia made a good point. The lack of exits and entrances which allowed her Summer soldiers to create their defensive position would be their undoing if they had to come to her aid. One by one they would leave the building and one by one they would be slaughtered in their blind desire to rescue her. She felt Sonrya's steady hand on her arm and could see the dryad was with her, whichever path she chose. Her soldiers would fight for her, die for her. Whichever path she chose.
"Lead on," Udara commanded in a hollow tone but inside she was fuming - angry at the situation, angry at herself for leaving her people to die and angry, so angry at Winter for always being too unmovable, too impassable and too strong.
There were no further discussions on the walk to the safe house and Udara's anger abated into a slow smouldering. There was no need for Analia to announce which building it was as a string of Summer soldiers came to attention in the garden of the house. Several stood on the walls and a few were even posted on the rooftops, far more soldiers than Udara would have expected from a simple scouting party. Had the other scouts been recalled already or- and then she saw him. His curly hair caught the evening light of the sun and while his face wasn't handsome in the conventional sense of the word, it brought a warm glow to Udara's heart. Her Summer Knight.
"Fighting at the park has broken up," Sir Apollo announced. "I received the Lady Analia's message with the location of the safe house and thought I might better serve you here."
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