Breaching the Perimeter

The concrete stairs spilled me out into the courtyard. Ahead rose an obstacle: a dense rock retaining wall, built from raw, jagged fieldstones stacked rough and dry. A rusted steel garden trowel was wedged tight between two boulders near the base, jammed deep by earth. I gripped the cold wooden handle and hauled backward with full force. Dried grit showered down as the blade broke free with a sharp scrape. I planted my boots firmly on the first stone ledge and raised the forged iron wedge high. Ground claimed. Forward.