Eli looked extraordinarily relieved, and no wonder. He pressed the boy’s shoulder for the briefest second in a pat of reassurance, presuming it an accident until the sweep started rummaging in his things, and pointed silently at one particular object, looking unnaturally grave.

“What’s that, then?” He asked, an eyebrow lifting. Jay wasn’t always around to examine every piece of every haul, particularly not those that never made it to the vaults or the shop, so couldn’t immediately place the knife that he saw glinting in the damp. Seeing no particular connection in this with the fire, and Eli’s reticence as mere contrition, Jay leant forwards and made to pick the knife up off the floor to examine it for himself.

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