The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer

oneleap
     over the bench to put it between himself and his opponent. Junipa moved back a step in
     fear. But Serafin followed Dario around the bench and was about to grab him again.
     Dario’s nose was bleeding; the last blow had weakened him. Instead of facing his
     antagonist, he whirled around, grabbed the surprised Junipa by the shoulders with both
     hands, pulled her roughly in front of him, and gave her a powerful push, which sent her
     stumbling in Serafin’s direction.
    Merle uttered a scream of rage. “That coward!”
    The weaver boy saw Junipa flying toward him and saw Dario as well, just
     behind her, ready to use his chance. Serafin had a choice: He could catch Junipa to keep
     her from plunging into a rack of glass bottles—or he could sidestep her and attack
     his archfoe.
    Serafin made a quick grab. He caught Junipa and held her for a moment in
     an embrace that was intended to protect her as well as to reassure her.
     “It’s all right,” he whispered to her, “nothing happened to
     you.”
    He’d scarcely spoken the words when Dario rammed his fist over
     Junipa’s shoulder into Serafin’s face.
    â€œNo!” bellowed Merle furiously. She leaped past Boro and
     Tiziano, ran to the workbench, and pulled Dario away from Junipa and Serafin.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” yelped the older boy, but she’d
     already pulled him over backward to the floor.
    Very briefly she caught Serafin’s look as he carefullypushed Junipa to one side. He smiled through green paint and blood,
     then hurried back to his friends at the entrance.
    â€œWe’re clearing out,” he said, and a moment later the
     weavers were gone.
    Merle paid no attention to Dario but turned to Junipa, who was standing,
     dazed, in front of the bottle rack.
    â€œEverything all right?”
    Junipa nodded. “Yes . . . thanks. All
     right.”
    Behind Merle’s back Dario began to curse and scold; she could sense
     that he was approaching her threateningly. She abruptly whirled around, looked deep into
     his small eyes, and gave him a box on the ear as hard as she could.
    Before Dario could rush at her, Eft was suddenly between them. Merle felt
     the powerful grip when the housekeeper grasped her by the shoulder and pulled her away
     from Dario. But she didn’t hear what Eft said, didn’t hear the crude raging
     of Dario, which couldn’t touch her. She was looking pensively out into the
     corridor into which Serafin had vanished with his friends.

3

    â€œA ND WHAT, PRAY, AM I S UPPOSED TO DO WITH
     YOU NOW? ”
    The master’s voice sounded more disappointed than angry. Arcimboldo
     was sitting behind his study desk in the library. The walls of the room were covered
     with leather book spines. Merle wondered whether he’d actually read all those
     books.
    â€œThe damage the weaver’s apprentices have caused with their
     paint is hardly worth mentioning, in light of what the two of you have done,”
     Arcimboldo continued, letting his eyes travel from Dario to Merle and back again. The
     two were standing in front of the desk and lookingsheepishly at the
     floor. Their anger at each other was in no way cooled, but even Dario seemed to
     understand that it was appropriate to restrain himself.
    â€œYou have kindled strife among the students. And you have led others
     to take sides. If Eft hadn’t intervened, Junipa, Boro, and Tiziano would have had
     to choose for one of you.” An angry spark appeared in the old man’s eyes, so
     that he now seemed stern and unapproachable. “I cannot allow my apprentices to be
     divided. What I insist on is cooperation and avoidance of all unnecessary conflicts.
     Magic mirrors require a certain harmony in order to mature into what they are. In an
     atmosphere of hostility a shadow is laid over the glass that will make it grow
     blind.”
    Merle had the feeling that he was making it