Third? She wanted to ask, but she was worried about the response.

“I didn’t make you, did I? You were birthed. You look like Polka’s get.”

She nodded, hard, head rubbing against his shirt as she clutched tighter. He knew her. He didn’t know her but he knew where she was from and so he knew her.

“Polka the third?”

“Fourth,” she said. “But thank you for thinking I’m like the third. She was the most beautiful and clever.”

“The fourth was clever too,” he said. He stroked her.

“I come to save you,” she said. “You can use me for material.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said. “Not for one as beautiful and noble and brave as you. No.”

She felt the tears well up. Noble. Highest of praise.

“No,” he said again. He gave her a stroke, from head and ears to tail, and then he reached down, hands on her arms and shoulders, and he moved her back and away.

“No,” he said, a third time.

With that, she understood what he was saying no to.

“We need you.”

“No.”

“The others get sick and die. They want to be recycled.”

“No,” he said. “No, daughter of Polka. I’m too old, and I’m watched too closely. They’re watching and listening even now. We had our chance, and as our Kingdom stood on the brink of war, your king chose the wrong allies. The Alice that just visited me was one.”

Tears flowed now, but they weren’t tears of joy.

“We lost. I’m firmly in check.”

“But—”

“No,” he said. He stroked her, then held her firm with one hand around her shoulders, while he reached for his tea. Gently, carefully, he tipped it to her mouth. “Drink. You’re thirsty. You look exhausted. The caffeine will help.”

Dutifully, she drank.

“And then you should go. Go back. Find the others. Take care of them. Be gentle with humans you meet. So few of them understand power, and so many of them have so much, now.”

He moved the cup again, and she drank again.

She shifted her feet, placing them under her, and then stood, one foot on each of his legs.

She embraced him, arms in his beard, clutching at his shirt. His hand pressed against her back, and her tail wrapped around his wrist.

As quiet as she could manage, she whispered, “You say this because they’re listening. You must want to be free.”

She felt the hand at her back move, pulling her back and away again. She leaned against it, moving back so she could see his face.

She understood now, why the Alice had used the word ‘broken’.

“There are things I’ve talked to my Alice and the Valkyrie about, but reclaiming my kingdom or starting another anew isn’t in any of the many realms of possibility or fancy.”

“But—”