Night Post

The basin was fine for cooling off, but patrolling on the ground after dark leaves too many blind spots. I marched across the gravel to a square brick pillar supporting the courtyard trellis. A weathered wooden stake leaned against its base. I grabbed the rough timber edge, dug my boots into the mortar grooves, and scaled straight up to the flat limestone cap. A dry terracotta drainage tray was resting on top, filled with a few loose pebbles. I shoved the tray aside with one kick to clear the ledge, folded my arms against the night chill, and sat back against the trellis post. The entire courtyard was locked under my watch.