The Carved Knight

A carved wooden chess piece stood upright near the base of the bookshelf. Solid dark timber, shaped like a horse's head. I approached with measured steps and placed one palm against its flank to gauge its mass. Dense. I gripped the carved muzzle with both hands and eased the figure backward onto its edge, testing the counterweight. Green felt lined the base, concealing a lead slug inside. When I released the tension, the piece rocked once and snapped flush against the wood with a dull, decisive thud. Excellent balance. I nudged it two inches forward, squaring its stance along the floorboard seam.