Reni turned his head away from Jal, who pushed on, determined to have an answer.
‘I think you feel guilty.’
Reni finally met Jal’s eyes. Slowly he laid his tool and the gold work down on the worktable. He removed the glass from his eye and laid that down too.
‘Not guilty, my boy,’ he said, and Jal realised his father’s oldest friend had red-rimmed eyes. He took a step back, surprised. Childhood idols did not cry. When Reni spoke again there was a tremor in his voice.
‘No, not guilty. Not I. I was not the one to report your father to the Council. I rejoiced with him. He had finally done it. Reached the moment when you are one with your creation, when …’
He stopped abruptly and reached across the table to pick up another gold item, twin in shape to the filigree piece he had just been wo
