A Standing Knight

I slipped through the terrace latch and stepped quietly onto the living room rug. On the low walnut table, a wooden chessboard sat mid-game under the warm circle of a floor lamp. A carved dark knight had tipped over, resting heavy across two maple squares. I used the fluted table leg for leverage to climb up and inspected the timber piece. It was dense boxwood, solid and cool. Bracing my boots firmly against the recessed border groove, I gripped the knight by its carved mane and levered it upward until its weighted base hit the board with a sharp, clean click. Balance restored.