Beorn reached the shelf before the others finished crossing the room.
It stretched along the back wall of the workshop beyond the press. Like the press, the objects on it were hidden beneath cloth covers. The shapes varied in size and form, with no obvious order to them. The largest sat at the far left.
Beorn pulled away its covering before anyone else had quite reached him.
A cast-iron cauldron rested on the shelf with its lid fitted in place. It was round, sturdy, and the dark gray color of well-made foundry iron.
Beorn lifted it by the handle, then steadied the lid with his other hand. He let the lid settle into the rim.
It dropped perfectly into place with a low, solid sound.
No wobble.
He lifted it and seated it again, then repeated the motion a third time so they could hear the result for themselves.
