Eliot’s just going to assume the difference in colour is an effect of the dim light and tired eyes. Thankfully he’s not the sort to automatically assume it’s something sinister. Besides, he has one priority now and that’s opening this wooden chest.

He crouches down and sets the candle beside him, then checks to see if the box is locked or latched before lifting the lid.

Please, he thinks, let it be a stash of well aged wines.