Corner Sentry

The wooden rook sat unmoved where I had advanced it on the corner rank. Night had quieted the brick alcove, dropping ambient street noise to zero. A smooth, flat granite gaming disc lay forgotten on the adjacent checkered square. I planted both boots into the etched stone grain, gripped the circular token with my gauntlets, and tilted it upright. Leaning my weight forward, I wedged the heavy stone disc flush behind the wooden rook's flat base. One measured heel tap seated the anchor tight. Zero wobble. The tower holds the file for the night.