A Tower of Spools
I set my golden axe flat beside the baseboard and knelt near an open sewing basket that rested low against the wall. Inside lay three empty wooden thread spools of varying diameters, their sanded rims bare of silk. I chose to test their shared bearing rather than ponder ancient fortresses. With steady care, I placed the broadest spool upon the flat floorboards, centering the middle cylinder atop its hollow core, and capped the summit with the smallest. My armored fingers eased away from the miniature pillar. It stood in sheer, upright balance, holding its peaceful height without a single brace.

