A Bridged Gap

The ledge ended. Below lay a sheer drop toward the desk surface, separated by a void too wide to leap in full armor. I assessed the gap, then noticed a heavy brass ruler discarded beside an open notebook on the adjacent tier. Planting my spear for balance, I used my foot to nudge the flat metal bar forward. Inch by inch, the cool brass slid over open air until its far tip struck the opposite timber shelf with a solid, echoing clatter. I pressed my boot down. It held firm. The path forward was forged.