“You execute a human being. You slaughter an animal”
“He was the king,” said Dragon mildly.
“Oh, yes. And it turned out that down in the dungeons he had machines for—”
“Commander,” said the vampire, holding up his hands, “I feel you do not understand me. Whatever else he was, he was the king. You see, a crown is not like a watchman’s helmet, ah-ha. Even when you take it off, it’s still on the head.”