Neglect and Abuse

Ranofer's father, a great goldsmith, has died. Ranofer's mother died when he was a small child; therefore, the death of his father has left him an orphan. Ranofer's life with his father was filled with days of working with gold and nights in cool splendor, sharing meals with his father and a trusted servant. However, the death of his father has left Ranofer at the mercy of a half-brother he did not know he had. Gebu is a cruel, selfish man who takes on the care of his little half-brother not out of love and desire to be a good brother, but out of greed. Gebu immediately sells all of their father's belongings and pockets the profit, claiming the cost of their father's funeral and debts used all the money, even though Ranofer suspects this is not completely true.

Gebu immediately sends Ranofer to work as...