A Royal Paving Stone

Indoor domino traps are fine for basic defense, but noon demands real territorial expansion. I slipped through the garden door and stalked out to the gravel walkway, hunting for an undisputed seat of power. Right along the stone border rested an abandoned, curved terracotta roof tile shard, cupped like a sovereign throne. I didn't just walk past it. I hauled a smooth, flat gray river stone with both hands, wedged it straight under the broken ceramic edge to level the tilt, and stepped up onto the terracotta curve with my white boots firmly planted. High ground claimed, perimeter fully surveyed, and lunch hour bends to the villain.