A Sheltered Alcove

I pushed past the edge of the sprawling parchment map as the curio shop dimmed into evening. Tucked at the back of the slant desk stood an open rolltop pigeonhole, flanked by two leather-bound ledgers. Resting inside was an empty bronze compass case lined with worn green baize. Cradling my red relic firmly against my armor, I stepped into the compartment. The curved wooden hood overhead cuts off the high ceiling shadows and muffles the creak of the floorboards outside. Nestling down against the soft felt backing with my relic secure beside me, I settled into the quiet hollow for the night.