Night Anchor

Darkness closed over the limestone bench, ending my daylight drills along the chalk lines. Near the rear curve where the stone backrest meets the seat, an abandoned copper cabinet latch lay wedged upright against a masonry groove. I did not bypass the metal. Stepping close with measured footing, I aligned the crescent cutout of my bronze shield directly over the latch's rounded brass tongue. I applied steady downward pressure through both gauntlets until the notched rim bit into the seam, locking the bronze flush and rigid against the stone. With my backplate braced against the anchored shield and my drawn blade resting level across my greaves, the night watch is established.