Why wasn't anyone else skulking about the shop? Nearly all of the others were much more well equipped to talk some sense into Jay. What could he do? He'd been trying to communicate how dangerous he thought the knife appeared to be, but it seemed the man wasn't about to take the hint. The lure of it was too strong.

When Jay pushed past him, Eli side-stepped out of the way, trying to assess his options. He wasn't physically strong enough to wrestle the crude weapon from the man's grip. Nor did he particularly wish to anger him more than was necessary.

However, the moment he spotted Jay tracing the designs he'd made, any makeshift plans were dashed from his head. The last thing they needed was for his sleeping quarters or the shop to be reduced to ashes. The small boy reached for the closest thing to him, his longest chimney brush, and did something so unlike him that he even surprised himself. Eli grasped its handle with two hands and attempted to swing it at the hand that held the knife. The bristles were made of sharp metal, and he knew he's likely feel terrible about potentially harming poor Jay. However, it was better than them both perishing from a fire.