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        He looked out over the crowd again, and shouted in the human tongue: “This city is mine!” The soldiers glared and spat, but the people only looked miserable— they already knew. Ugruk pointed out over the rooftops that surrounded the palace square, and shouted again. “My cities do not burn! The fires are being put out!” It was true— already the columns of smoke rising from the city were growing smaller. The people murmured, craned to look, tried not to catch his eye by craning. Ugruk turned to the king, now deposed. The old man's fear was obvious in his eyes, but he stood as straight as age would allow. Even so, he flinched when Ugruk reached towards his face. Ugruk snorted, and pulled the circlet from the old man's brow.
	“I am Ugruk Stonebreaker!” He shouted, holding it aloft. His warriors cheered again, and he took the golden band in both hands and bent it tighter and tighter into a narrow coil. The king gasped, but Ugruk ignored him. When he was done, he slipped the gold spiral onto his arm, to join six other gold and silver rings. He thrust his arm into the air again, precious metal glinting in the sun. “I am Ugruk Khan!” he shouted. “I wear my empire on my arm!” The cries were thunderous, like horses hooves. The humans quailed, walled in by the sound. He lowered his arm, and pointed at the former king.
	“What are the taxes?” He said, loud enough for the crowd to hear. The old man looked bewildered.
	“A... a tenth part,” he stumbled over his words.
	“They will be the same!” said Ugruk. “And what gods are worshipped?”
	“The River Mother,” said the once-king, looking more confused now than anything.
	“You may keep her,” said Ugruk.
	“You burned down the temple!” cried one of the priests, braver than his fellows, before Ugruk could continue, and the peasants behind began to shout and mutter as well.
	“Yes!” said Ugruk, louder than all of them. “And the stables! Do you imagine I prohibit horses? Build a new temple.” His warriors laughed at the priest's expense, and Ugruk turned back to the old man.
	“Kneel,” he said.